The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 Film) - Cast

Cast

• Millie Perkins as Anne Frank
• Joseph Schildkraut as Otto Frank (repeating his stage role)
• Shelley Winters as Petronella van Daan
• Richard Beymer as Peter van Daan
• Gusti Huber as Edith Frank (repeating her stage role)
• Lou Jacobi as Hans van Daan (repeating his stage role)
• Diane Baker as Margot Frank
• Douglas Spencer as Kraler
• Dodie Heath as Miep (credited as Dody Heath)
• Ed Wynn as Albert Dussell

Otto Frank personally wrote to Audrey Hepburn, asking her if she would play the part of his daughter Anne. Frank told Hepburn that his daughter would have been honored to have such a famous Hollywood actress play her on film, and he also noted the striking resemblance that existed between Anne and Hepburn when she was an adolescent. Hepburn wrote back declining the offer, saying she felt she was too old, and lacked the skills to portray Anne. She said she was greatly honored to have been given the choice, and noted the similarity between her own war experience and that of the Frank's and the others in the annex.