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Kathy Bates

Acting 77 years old Memphis, Tennessee, USA ★ 4.0
Born: June 28, 1948

Biography

Kathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an American actress and director. She has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, she studied theatre at the Southern Methodist University before moving to New York City to pursue an acting career. She landed minor stage roles before being cast in her first on screen role in Taking Off (1971). Her first Off-Broadway stage performance was in the 1976 production of Vanities. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, she continued to perform on screen and on stage, and garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Play in 1983 for her performance in 'night, Mother, and won an Obie Award in 1988 for her performance in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.

Bates' performance as Annie Wilkes in the tense psychological thriller Misery (1990) marked her Hollywood breakthrough, winning her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Further acclaim came for her starring role in Dolores Claiborne (1995), The Waterboy (1998), and supporting roles in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) and Titanic (1997). Bates received subsequent Oscar nods in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work in Primary Colors (1998), About Schmidt (2002), and Richard Jewell (2019).

Bates' television work has resulted in 14 Emmy Award nominations, including two for her leading role on the NBC series Harry's Law (2011–12). She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearance on the ninth season of Two and a Half Men (2012) and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her portrayal of Delphine LaLaurie on the third season of American Horror Story (2013). She also received accolades for her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in the 1999 television adaptation of Annie. Her directing credits include several episodes of the HBO television series Six Feet Under (2001–03) and the television film Ambulance Girl (2005).

External Links

🌐 Official Website 🎬 IMDb 🐦 Twitter

Known For

Titanic
Titanic Molly Brown 1997
Misery
Misery Annie Wilkes 1990
Tammy
Tammy Lenore 2014
A Family Affair
A Family Affair Leila Ford 2024
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes Evelyn Couch 1991

Jimmy's Seen (1)

Die Hard
Die Hard Self 1988

Filmography

Acting Credits (169)

Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life
Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life Self 2025
Matlock
Matlock Madeline 'Matty' Matlock 2024
The Great Lillian Hall
The Great Lillian Hall Edith Wilson 2024
A Family Affair
A Family Affair Leila Ford 2024
Summer Camp
Summer Camp Ginny Moon 2024
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter Self 2023
Titanic: Stories from the Heart
Titanic: Stories from the Heart Self (archive footage) 2023
The Miracle Club
The Miracle Club Eileen Dunne 2023
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Sylvia Simon 2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
The Jennifer Hudson Show Self 2022
Home
Home Bernadette 2021
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony Self (archive footage) 2021
Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell Bobi Jewell 2019
The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen Ma Ferguson 2019
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan Barbara Haggermaker 2019
On the Basis of Sex
On the Basis of Sex Dorothy Kenyon 2018
Krystal
Krystal Vera 2018
Disjointed
Disjointed Ruth 2017
FEUD
FEUD Joan Blondell 2017
Bad Santa 2
Bad Santa 2 Sunny Soke 2016
Complete Unknown
Complete Unknown Nina 2016
Chelsea
Chelsea Self 2016
The Boss
The Boss Ida Marquette 2016
The Great Gilly Hopkins
The Great Gilly Hopkins Maime Trotter 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Self 2015
Lip Sync Battle
Lip Sync Battle Self 2015
Boychoir
Boychoir Headmistress 2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors Self 2014
Tammy
Tammy Lenore 2014
Cadaver
Cadaver Beth 2012
Reflections on Titanic
Reflections on Titanic Self 2012
American Horror Story
American Horror Story Delphine LaLaurie 2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story Ethel Darling 2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story Iris 2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story Agnes Mary Winstead 2011
American Horror Story
American Horror Story Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie 2011
Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris Gertrude Stein 2011
You May Not Kiss the Bride
You May Not Kiss the Bride Bryan's Mother 2011
A Little Bit of Heaven
A Little Bit of Heaven Beverly Corbett 2011
Harry's Law
Harry's Law Harriet 'Harry' Korn 2011
Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly Kay 2010
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day Susan Milton 2010
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club Pancho Barnes (Voice) 2009
Alice
Alice Queen of Hearts 2009
The Blind Side
The Blind Side Miss Sue 2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Self - Guest 2009
Chéri
Chéri Madame Peloux 2009
Personal Effects
Personal Effects Gloria 2009
Revolutionary Road
Revolutionary Road Mrs. Helen Givings 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still Regina Jackson 2008
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys Charlotte Cartwright 2008
Stand Up to Cancer
Stand Up to Cancer Self 2008
The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass Hester (voice) 2007
P.S. I Love You
P.S. I Love You Patricia 2007
Fred Claus
Fred Claus Mother Claus 2007
Bee Movie
Bee Movie Janet Benson (voice) 2007
Christmas Is Here Again
Christmas Is Here Again Miss Dowdy (voice) 2007
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory Mrs. Fowler 2007
Guilty Hearts
Guilty Hearts The Judge 2007
Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately Self (archive footage) 2007
Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web Bitsy the Cow (voice) 2006
Bonneville
Bonneville Margene Cunningham 2006
Relative Strangers
Relative Strangers Agnes Menure 2006
Failure to Launch
Failure to Launch Sue 2006
Rumor Has It...
Rumor Has It... Aunt Mitsy (uncredited) 2005
Six Feet Under: In Memoriam
Six Feet Under: In Memoriam Herself 2005
Ambulance Girl
Ambulance Girl Jane Stern 2005
Warm Springs
Warm Springs Helena Mahoney 2005
The Office
The Office Jo Bennett 2005
American Dad!
American Dad! D.O. Rothy (voice) 2005
Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel Narrator (voice) 2005
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
The Bridge of San Luis Rey The Marquesa 2004
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing Narrator (voice) 2004
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy Siren / Sea Hag (voice) 2004
Little Black Book
Little Black Book Kippie Kann 2004
Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days Queen Victoria 2004
Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men Charlie Harper 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Self 2003
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Celebrity Naked Ambition Self (archive footage) 2003
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence Self 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self 2003
Misery Loves Company
Misery Loves Company Self 2003
Love Liza
Love Liza Mary Ann Bankhead 2002
About Schmidt
About Schmidt Roberta Hertzel 2002
Unconditional Love
Unconditional Love Grace Beasley 2002
Dragonfly
Dragonfly Mrs. Belmont 2002
Making Rat Race
Making Rat Race Herself 2002
My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper Christine Chapman 2002
American Outlaws
American Outlaws Ma James 2001
Rat Race
Rat Race The Squirrel Lady (uncredited) 2001
Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under Bettina 2001
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood Frances Marion (voice) 2000
Bruno
Bruno Mother Superior 2000
Annie
Annie Miss Agatha Hannigan 1999
Baby Steps
Baby Steps Mrs. Mellon 1999
A Civil Action
A Civil Action Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited) 1998
Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes
Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes Self 1998
The Waterboy
The Waterboy Mama Boucher 1998
The Effects of Magic
The Effects of Magic Raphaella, the Magic Bunny 1998
Titanic: Breaking New Ground
Titanic: Breaking New Ground Self 1998
Primary Colors
Primary Colors Libby Holden 1998
Swept from the Sea
Swept from the Sea Miss Swaffer 1998
Titanic
Titanic Molly Brown 1997
The View
The View Self 1997
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life Self 1997
King of the Hill
King of the Hill Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice) 1997
The War at Home
The War at Home Maurine Collier 1996
The Daily Show
The Daily Show Self 1996
Diabolique
Diabolique Det. Shirley Vogel 1996
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful Self 1996
The Late Shift
The Late Shift Helen Kushnick 1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun Charlotte Everly 1996
The West Side Waltz
The West Side Waltz Mr. Goo 1995
MADtv
MADtv Stuart's Grandma 1995
Angus
Angus Meg Bethune 1995
Talking With
Talking With Big Eight (segment "Rodeo") 1995
Dolores Claiborne
Dolores Claiborne Dolores Claiborne 1995
Curse of the Starving Class
Curse of the Starving Class Ella Tate 1994
Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio Self 1994
North
North Alaskan Mom 1994
The Stand
The Stand Rae Flowers (uncredited) 1994
Tupperware!
Tupperware! Narrator 1994
A Home of Our Own
A Home of Our Own Frances Lacey 1993
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun Lunar Mom 1993
Used People
Used People Bibby Berman 1992
Hostages
Hostages Peggy Say 1992
Prelude to a Kiss
Prelude to a Kiss Leah Blier 1992
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories Narrator (voice) 1992
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes Evelyn Couch 1991
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
At Play in the Fields of the Lord Hazel Quarrier 1991
Shadows and Fog
Shadows and Fog Prostitute 1991
The Road to Mecca
The Road to Mecca Elsa Barlow 1991
Misery
Misery Annie Wilkes 1990
White Palace
White Palace Rosemary 1990
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy Mrs. Green 1990
Men Don't Leave
Men Don't Leave Lisa Coleman 1990
No Place Like Home
No Place Like Home Bonnie Cooper 1989
High Stakes
High Stakes Jill 1989
Roe vs. Wade
Roe vs. Wade Jessie 1989
Signs of Life
Signs of Life Mary Beth Alder 1989
American Experience
American Experience Narrator (voice) 1988
American Experience
American Experience Narrator 1988
Arthur 2: On the Rocks
Arthur 2: On the Rocks Mrs. Canby 1988
China Beach
China Beach 1988
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
My Best Friend Is a Vampire Helen Blake 1987
Summer Heat
Summer Heat Ruth 1987
Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained Bobbi Birk 1987
Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained Bobbi Birk 1987
The Morning After
The Morning After Woman on Mateo Street 1986
L.A. Law
L.A. Law Charlotte Haley 1986
Johnny Bull
Johnny Bull Katherine Kovacs 1986
Two of a Kind
Two of a Kind Furniture Man's Wife 1983
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Stella Mae 1982
St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere Polly Miller 1982
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey 1982
Straight Time
Straight Time Selma Darin 1978
The Love Boat
The Love Boat Sally Allison 1977
Taking Off
Taking Off Audition Singer 1971
Great Performances
Great Performances Self 1971
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self 1962
The Oscars
The Oscars Self 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Christine Chapman 1951
The Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards Self 1949
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Nominee / Presenter 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Nominee 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Audience Member 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Winner 1944
The Smack
The Smack Babs

Directing Credits (9)

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