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