Kathy Bates
Actor, Director, Producer
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
Filmography
| 2024 | Matlock (2024) · 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 | Home · as BernadetteOn Plex |
| 2020 | Stephen King: A Necessary Evil · as Annie Wilkes |
| 2019 | Richard Jewell · as Bobi Jewell |
| 2019 | The Highwaymen · as Ma Ferguson |
| 2018 | The Death & Life of John F. Donovan · as Barbara Haggermaker |
| 2018 | On the Basis of Sex · as Dorothy Kenyon |
| 2017 | Krystal · as Vera |
| 2017 | Disjointed · as Ruth |
| 2017 | Feud · 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 · as Delphine Lalaurie |
| 2011 | You May Not Kiss the Bride · as Bryan's MotherOn Plex |
| 2011 | Midnight in Paris · as Gertrude Stein |
| 2011 | A Little Bit of Heaven · as Beverly CorbettOn Plex |
| 2011 | Harry's Law · as Harriet 'harry' Korn |
| 2010 | Mike & Molly · 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) · 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 GloriaOn Plex |
| 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 · as Mrs. Fowler |
| 2006 | Charlotte's Web · as Bitsy The Cow (voice) |
| 2006 | Bonneville · as Margene Cunningham |
| 2006 | Relative Strangers · as Agnes MenureOn Plex |
| 2006 | Failure to Launch · as Sue |
| 2006 | Guilty Hearts · as The Judge |
| 2005 | Rumor Has It... · as Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)On Plex |
| 2005 | San Sebastián 2005: Crónica de Carlos Boyero · as Annie Wilkes |
| 2005 | Ambulance Girl · as Jane SternOn Plex |
| 2005 | Hansel and Gretel · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2005 | Warm Springs · as Helena Mahoney |
| 2005 | The Office (US) · as Jo Bennett |
| 2005 | American Dad! · as D.o. Rothy (voice) |
| 2004 | The Bridge of San Luis Rey · as The MarquesaOn Plex |
| 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 · as Charlie Harper |
| 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 ChapmanOn Plex |
| 2001 | Rat Race · as The Squirrel Lady (uncredited) |
| 2001 | American Outlaws · as Ma James |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under · as Bettina |
| 2000 | Possessed · as StudentOn Plex |
| 2000 | Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood · as Frances Marion (voice) |
| 2000 | Bruno · as Mother SuperiorOn Plex |
| 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 · as Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice) |
| 1996 | The War at Home · as Maurine Collier |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues · as The Girls' Mother |
| 1996 | Diabolique · as Det. Shirley Vogel |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun · as Charlotte Everly |
| 1995 | The Late Shift · as Helen Kushnick |
| 1995 | The West Side Waltz · as Mr. Goo |
| 1995 | MADtv · 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 · as Rae Flowers (uncredited) |
| 1993 | A Home of Our Own · as Frances Lacey |
| 1992 | Used People · as Bibby BermanOn Plex |
| 1992 | Hostages · as Peggy SayOn Plex |
| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss · as Leah Blier |
| 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 | 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 AlderOn Plex |
| 1988 | American Experience · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1988 | Arthur 2: On the Rocks · as Mrs. Canby |
| 1988 | |
| 1987 | My Best Friend Is a Vampire · as Helen Blake |
| 1987 | Summer Heat · as Ruth |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained · as Bobbi Birk |
| 1987 | Murder Ordained · as Bobbi Birk |
| 1986 | The Morning After · as Woman On Mateo Street |
| 1986 | L.A. Law · 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 · as Polly Miller |
| 1981 | |
| 1978 | Straight Time · as Selma Darin |
| 1977 | The Love Boat · as Sally Allison |
| 1971 | Taking Off · as Audition Singer |
| 1970 | All My Children · as Belle Bodelle (1984) |
| 1968 | One Life to Live · as Evelyn Maddox |
| 1963 | The Doctors · as Phyllis Gillette |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame · as Christine Chapman |
| 1933 | Popeye the Sailor · as The Sea Hag |
| 2005 | Ambulance GirlOn Plex |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | |
| 2001 | |
| 1999 | |
| 1997 | |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | |
| 1971 |
| 2024 | Matlock (2024) · as Executive Producer |
| 2024 | The Great Lillian Hall · as Executive Producer |