Sandy Duncan, the effervescent actress known for her roles in Disney films and Broadway's "Peter Pan," underwent a dangerous brain tumor surgery in 1971 that left her permanently blind in her left eye.

The Texas-born triple threat performer was at the height of her early television success when doctors discovered the condition affecting her optic nerve, forcing her to leave a major sitcom and endure a 10-hour operation that would forever alter her life and career.

The Rise of a Texas Talent

Duncan was born on February 20, 1946, in Texas with dreams that set her apart from others in her hometown. She was the older of two girls, and her dad owned a gas station. Because she loved acting, she always felt like she didn't fit in. This did not stop the determined young girl from pursuing her dreams.

She started taking ballet lessons every week in Dallas after seeing a dance show at the American Legion Hall. By age 12, she earned her first professional role, appearing in "The King and I" for $150 weekly.

"I would go up to Dallas, and I would work three full months. It was not huge money but it was a beginning," Duncan shared. She also danced on TV shows in her area and at the yearly rose festival in Tyler, Texas.

While attending Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, she appeared in numerous productions including "Gypsy," "The Music Man," "Showboat," "Little Me," and "The Sound of Music" in Dallas. Determined to make it big, she eventually packed her bags for New York after leaving college.

Her talent quickly became apparent on the New York stage. She played a wonderful Wendy in the show "Peter Pan," which showed her talent at singing, dancing, and acting.

In 1968, she married Bruce Scott and was in the rock musical "Your Own Thing." After that, people on Broadway started to pay attention to her. She got her first Tony nomination for being in a musical based on Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales."

Next, Duncan played Maisie, a funny and charming character, in the musical "The Boy Friend," which was set in the Jazz Age. She became the most talked-about person in the show, even though Judy Carne was the main star.

This got her another Tony nomination for "Best Actress." But, after this, she would face challenges that would test her strength like never before.

From Broadway to Hollywood and a Life-Changing Diagnosis

In 1970, Time Magazine named Duncan "the most promising face of tomorrow." This recognition reached the ears of Disney executives, who decided to cast her opposite Dean Jones in the comedy film "The Million Dollar Duck" (1971). Television producers also noticed her potential, featuring her increasingly in commercials.