Patty Hearst: podcast appearances and interviews

Patricia Campbell Hearst, born on February 20, 1954, is an American actress and a member of the Hearst family, which includes newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst. She first gained public attention following her 1974 kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army. After being abducted, she was found and arrested 19 months later when she was a fugitive wanted for serious crimes committed with the group. During her detention, there was speculation that her family's resources might help her avoid prison. Her trial included testimony that she had been raped and threatened with death during captivity, and the prosecution argued that she had voluntarily joined the SLA. In 1976, she was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 35 years, which was later reduced to seven years. Her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, and she was subsequently pardoned by President Bill Clinton. In the 1990s, Hearst transitioned into acting in films and television, with her career beginning after she was approached by film director John Waters.