About Patty Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst (born February 20, 1954) is an American actress and member of the Hearst family. She is the granddaughter of newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst. She first became known for the events following her 1974 kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). She was found and arrested 19 months after being abducted, by which time she was a fugitive wanted for serious crimes committed with members of the group. She was held in custody, and there was speculation before trial that her family's resources would enable her to avoid time in prison. At her trial, the prosecution suggested that Hearst had joined the Symbionese Liberation Army of her own volition. However, she testified that she had been raped and threatened with death while held captive. In 1976, she was convicted for the crime of bank robbery and sentenced to 35 years in prison, later reduced to seven years. Her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, and she was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton. In the 1990s, she began acting in films and television after being approached by film director John Waters. Hearst's grandfather William Randolph Hearst created the largest newspaper, magazine, newsreel and film business in the world. A fire broke out in the house, in which the remaining members died; DeFreeze first killed himself by gunshot. She is the granddaughter of American publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.