KB
Kathy Bates
Actor, Director, ProducerBorn June 28, 1948 (77 years)
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).
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).
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Featured Videos
Kathy Bates Filmography
| 2024 | Matlock (2024) (TV Series) · as Madeline 'matty' Matlock |
| 2024 | A Family Affair · as Leila Ford |
| 2024 | The Great Lillian Hall · as Edith Wilson |
| 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 |
| 2022 | King on Screen · as Annie Wilkes |
| 2020 | |
| 2020 | Stephen King: A Necessary Evil · as Annie Wilkes |
| 2019 | Richard Jewell · as Bobi Jewell |
| 2019 | The Highwaymen · as Ma Ferguson |
| 2018 | On the Basis of Sex · as Dorothy Kenyon |
| 2018 | The Death & Life of John F. Donovan · as Barbara Haggermaker |
| 2017 | Krystal · as Vera |
| 2017 | Disjointed (TV Series) · as Ruth |
| 2017 | Feud (TV Series) · as Joan Blondell |
| 2016 | Bad Santa 2 · as Sunny Soke |
| 2016 | Complete Unknown · as Nina |
| 2016 | The Boss · as Ida Marquette |
| 2015 | The Great Gilly Hopkins · as Maime Trotter |
| 2014 | Boychoir · as Headmistress |
| 2014 | When Marnie Was There · as Mrs. Kadoya |
| 2014 | Tammy · as Lenore |
| 2012 | Titanic: Deleted Scenes · as Molly Brown |
| 2011 | American Horror Story (TV Series) · as Delphine Lalaurie |
| 2011 | You May Not Kiss the Bride · as Bryan's Mother |
| 2011 | Midnight in Paris · as Gertrude Stein |
| 2011 | A Little Bit of Heaven · as Beverly Corbett |
| 2011 | Harry's Law (TV Series) · as Harriet 'harry' Korn |
| 2010 | Mike & Molly (TV Series) · as Kay |
| 2010 | Valentine's Day · as Susan Milton |
| 2009 | The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club · as Pancho Barnes (voice) |
| 2009 | Alice (2009) (TV Series) · as Queen Of Hearts |
| 2009 | The Blind Side · as Miss Sue |
| 2009 | Premio Donostia a Ian McKellen · as Miss Swaffer |
| 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 |
| 2008 | The Family That Preys · as Charlotte Cartwright |
| 2007 | P.S. I Love You · as Patricia |
| 2007 | The Golden Compass · as Hester (voice) |
| 2007 | Fred Claus · as Mother Claus |
| 2007 | Bee Movie · as Janet Benson (voice) |
| 2007 | Christmas Is Here Again · as Miss Dowdy (voice) |
| 2007 | The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) · as Mrs. Fowler |
| 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 |
| 2006 | Guilty Hearts · as The Judge |
| 2005 | Rumor Has It... · as Aunt Mitsy (uncredited) |
| 2005 | San Sebastián 2005: Crónica de Carlos Boyero · as Annie Wilkes |
| 2005 | Ambulance Girl · as Jane Stern |
| 2005 | Hansel and Gretel · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2005 | Warm Springs · as Helena Mahoney |
| 2005 | The Office (US) (TV Series) · as Jo Bennett |
| 2005 | American Dad! (TV Series) · as D.o. Rothy (voice) |
| 2004 | The Bridge of San Luis Rey · as The Marquesa |
| 2004 | Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy · as Siren / Sea Hag (voice) |
| 2004 | The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2004 | Little Black Book · as Kippie Kann |
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days · as Queen Victoria |
| 2003 | Two and a Half Men (TV Series) · as Charlie Harper |
| 2003 | Celebrity Naked Ambition · as Cast |
| 2002 | Love Liza · as Mary Ann Bankhead |
| 2002 | About Schmidt · as Roberta Hertzel |
| 2002 | Unconditional Love · as Grace Beasley |
| 2002 | Dragonfly · as Mrs. Belmont |
| 2002 | My Sister's Keeper · as Christine Chapman |
| 2001 | Rat Race · as The Squirrel Lady (uncredited) |
| 2001 | American Outlaws · as Ma James |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under (TV Series) · as Bettina |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood · as Frances Marion (voice) |
| 2000 | |
| 1999 | Annie · as Miss Agatha Hannigan |
| 1998 | A Civil Action · as Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited) |
| 1998 | The Waterboy · as Mama Boucher |
| 1998 | The Effects of Magic · as Raphaella, The Magic Bunny |
| 1998 | Primary Colors · as Libby Holden |
| 1997 | Swept from the Sea · as Miss Swaffer |
| 1997 | Titanic · as Molly Brown |
| 1997 | King of the Hill (TV Series) · as Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice) |
| 1996 | The War at Home · as Maurine Collier |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues (TV Series) · as The Girls' Mother |
| 1996 | Diabolique · as Det. Shirley Vogel |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) · as Charlotte Everly |
| 1995 | The Late Shift · as Helen Kushnick |
| 1995 | The West Side Waltz · as Mr. Goo |
| 1995 | MADtv (TV Series) · as Stuart's Grandma |
| 1995 | Angus · as Meg Bethune |
| 1995 | Dolores Claiborne · as Dolores Claiborne |
| 1994 | Curse of the Starving Class · as Ella Tate |
| 1994 | North · as Alaskan Mom |
| 1994 | The Stand (TV Series) · as Rae Flowers (uncredited) |
| 1993 | A Home of Our Own · as Frances Lacey |
| 1992 | Used People · as Bibby Berman |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss · as Leah Blier |
| 1992 | Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1991 | Fried Green Tomatoes · as Evelyn Couch |
| 1991 | At Play in the Fields of the Lord · as Hazel Quarrier |
| 1991 | Shadows and Fog · as Prostitute |
| 1991 | The Road to Mecca · as Elsa Barlow |
| 1990 | Misery · as Annie Wilkes |
| 1990 | White Palace · as Rosemary |
| 1990 | Dick Tracy · as Mrs. Green |
| 1990 | Men Don't Leave · as Lisa Coleman |
| 1989 | No Place Like Home · as Bonnie Cooper |
| 1989 | High Stakes · as Jill |
| 1989 | Roe vs. Wade · as Jessie |
| 1989 | Signs of Life · as Mary Beth Alder |
| 1988 | American Experience (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1988 | Arthur 2: On the Rocks · as Mrs. Canby |
| 1988 | China Beach (TV Series) |
| 1987 | My Best Friend Is a Vampire · as Helen Blake |
| 1987 | Summer Heat · as Ruth |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained · as Bobbi Birk |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained (TV Series) · as Bobbi Birk |
| 1986 | The Morning After · as Woman On Mateo Street |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Charlotte Haley |
| 1986 | Johnny Bull · as Katherine Kovacs |
| 1983 | Two of a Kind · as Furniture Man's Wife |
| 1982 | Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean · as Stella Mae |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) · as Polly Miller |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) |
| 1978 | Straight Time · as Selma Darin |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Sally Allison |
| 1971 | Taking Off · as Audition Singer |
| 1970 | All My Children (TV Series) · as Belle Bodelle (1984) |
| 1968 | One Life to Live (TV Series) · as Evelyn Maddox |
| 1963 | The Doctors (TV Series) · as Phyllis Gillette |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Christine Chapman |
| 1933 | Popeye the Sailor (TV Series) · as The Sea Hag |
| 2005 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | Everwood (TV Series) |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under (TV Series) |
| 1999 | |
| 1997 | Oz (TV Series) |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series) |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) |
| 2025 | Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life · as Self |
| 2025 | The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 2025 | The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2025 | 82nd Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Presenter & Nominee |
| 2024 | The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2024 | Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2020 | The Drew Barrymore Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | The Oscars · as Self - Nominee |
| 2020 | 2020 Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2018 | Stand Up To Cancer · as Self |
| 2018 | Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind · as Self |
| 2017 | Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron · as Self - Actress, Titanic |
| 2016 | Stand Up to Cancer (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2016 | The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2016 | Stand Up to Cancer · as Self |
| 2016 | Chelsea (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | Lip Sync Battle (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2015 | 72nd Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2014 | Variety: Actors on Actors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2014 | The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes to... · as Self |
| 2014 | Late Night with Seth Meyers (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 2012 | Reflections on Titanic · as Self |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2011 | The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Piers Morgan Tonight (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | Conan (2010) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | Stand Up to Cancer · as Self |
| 2010 | The 82nd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | The Dr. Oz Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | The Doctors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Bonnie Hunt Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | Oscar, que empiece el espectáculo · as Self |
| 2007 | Chelsea Lately (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2007 | Morning Joe (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | Six Feet Under: In Memoriam · as Herself |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2004 | Premiere Women in Hollywood Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2004 | The Insider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | CMT Insider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains · as Self |
| 2003 | The 75th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2003 | TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV · as Self - Presenter |
| 2003 | 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2002 | Misery Loves Company · as Self |
| 2002 | Dr. Phil (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2002 | Making Rat Race · as Herself |
| 2001 | Independence Day 2001 · as Self |
| 1999 | The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 1999 | Stephen King: Shining in the Dark · as Self |
| 1999 | The 71st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1999 | 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1999 | The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1998 | Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1998 | Titanic: Breaking New Ground · as Self |
| 1998 | The 70th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Past Winner |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | |
| 1997 | 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1997 | 54th Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1996 | The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful · as Self |
| 1994 | WGN Morning News (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1994 | Extra (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Dennis Miller Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | The 65th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1992 | The 64th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1992 | Oscar's Greatest Moments · as Self |
| 1991 | Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1991 | The 63rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1991 | The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards 1991 · as Self - Winner |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1983 | Sally Jessy Raphael (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1982 | Wogan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | CBS Sunday Morning With Jane Pauley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1978 | heute journal (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1949 | The Emmy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Nominee / Presenter |
| 2024 | Matlock (2024) (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2024 | The Great Lillian Hall · as Executive Producer |