Kathy Bates

Born:June 28, 1948

Place of Birth:Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

Kathy Bates, born Kathleen Doyle Bates on June 28, 1948, is a versatile American actress and director known for her incredible talent and captivating performances. With a career spanning decades, Bates has become a highly respected figure in the entertainment industry, earning prestigious awards such as an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Bates honed her craft studying theatre at Southern Methodist University before making her way to New York City to pursue her passion for acting. She began her career with minor roles on stage and screen, gradually building a reputation for her exceptional skills. Bates' breakthrough came with her unforgettable portrayal of Annie Wilkes in the psychological thriller "Misery" (1990), a role that earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress and solidified her status as a powerhouse in Hollywood.

Throughout her career, Bates has delivered remarkable performances in a variety of projects, showcasing her versatility and range as an actress. From her roles in "Dolores Claiborne" (1995) to "Titanic" (1997) and "The Waterboy" (1998), Bates has consistently impressed audiences and critics alike with her compelling portrayals. Her ability to embody complex characters with depth and authenticity has earned her multiple Oscar nominations, demonstrating her enduring impact on the film industry.

In addition to her success in film, Bates has made a significant mark in television, garnering a remarkable 14 Emmy Award nominations for her outstanding work. Her portrayal of Delphine LaLaurie in the third season of "American Horror Story" (2013) earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, showcasing her talent in the medium. Bates' contributions to television also extend to directing, with credits including episodes of the acclaimed series "Six Feet Under" (2001–03) and the television film "Ambulance Girl" (2005).

Known for her dedication to her craft and her ability to immerse herself fully in her roles, Kathy Bates continues to captivate audiences with her exceptional performances and remarkable talent. With a career marked by critical acclaim and prestigious accolades, Bates remains a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation.

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Filmography

Acting

Titanic

Molly Brown

1997

101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic's departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.

Bee Movie

Janet Benson (voice)

2007

Barry B. Benson, a recent college graduate who wants more out of his life than making honey, decides to sue the human race after learning about the exploitation of bees at the hands of mankind.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Regina Jackson

2008

A representative of an alien race that went through drastic evolution to survive its own climate change, Klaatu comes to Earth to assess whether humanity can prevent the environmental damage they have inflicted on their own planet. When barred from speaking to the United Nations, he decides humankind shall be exterminated so the planet can survive.

Midnight in Paris

Gertrude Stein

2011

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

The Blind Side

Miss Sue

2009

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

Richard Jewell

Bobi Jewell

2019

Richard Jewell thinks quick, works fast, and saves hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives after a domestic terrorist plants several pipe bombs and they explode during a concert, only to be falsely suspected of the crime by sloppy FBI work and sensational media coverage.

Revolutionary Road

Mrs. Helen Givings

2008

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Misery

Annie Wilkes

1990

After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.

A Family Affair

Leila Ford

2024

The only thing worse than being the assistant to a high-maintenance movie star who doesn't take you seriously? Finding out he's smitten with your mom.

The Waterboy

Mama Boucher

1998

Bobby Boucher is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach discovers Boucher's hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Evelyn Couch

1991

Amidst her own personality crisis, southern housewife Evelyn Couch meets Ninny, an outgoing old woman who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, two young women who experienced hardships and love in Whistle Stop, Alabama in the 1920s.

Charlotte's Web

Bitsy the Cow (voice)

2006

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Sylvia Simon

2023

When her family moves from New York City to New Jersey, an 11-year-old girl navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

Rat Race

The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)

2001

In an ensemble film about easy money, greed, manipulation and bad driving, a Las Vegas casino tycoon entertains his wealthiest high rollers -- a group that will bet on anything -- by pitting six ordinary people against each other in a wild dash for $2 million jammed into a locker hundreds of miles away. The tycoon and his wealthy friends monitor each racer's every move to keep track of their favorites. The only rule in this race is that there are no rules.

The Highwaymen

Ma Ferguson

2019

In 1934, Frank Hamer and Manny Gault, two former Texas Rangers, are commissioned to put an end to the wave of vicious crimes perpetrated by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a notorious duo of infamous robbers and cold-blooded killers who nevertheless are worshiped by the public.

P.S. I Love You

Patricia

2007

A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.

Tammy

Lenore

2014

For Tammy, a burger-joint employee, a bad day keeps getting worse. She wrecks her car, loses her job, and finds that her husband has been unfaithful. It's time for Tammy to hit the road, but without money or transportation, her options are limited. Her only choice is a road trip with her hard-drinking grandmother, Pearl, who has a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. It's not the escape Tammy had in mind, but it may be what she needs.

Failure to Launch

Sue

2006

At 35, Tripp has an interesting job, a hip car, a passion for sailing, an active dating life, and a great house - trouble is, he still lives with his parents, Al and Sue, who are not happy about it. Al and Sue are fascinated when friends whose adult son has recently moved away from home reveal they hired an expert to help. In desperation to push Tripp out of the nest once and for all, Al and Sue hatch a plan to hire Paula, an "interventionist," who has a formula in these cases.

Valentine's Day

Susan Milton

2010

Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day.

A Civil Action

Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)

1998

Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.

Around the World in 80 Days

Queen Victoria

2004

A bet pits a British inventor, a Chinese thief and a French artist on a worldwide adventure that they can circle the globe in 80 days.

Dolores Claiborne

1995

Dolores Claiborne was accused of killing her abusive husband twenty years ago, but the court's findings were inconclusive and she was allowed to walk free. Now she has been accused of killing her employer, Vera Donovan, and this time there is a witness who can place her at the scene of the crime. Things look bad for Dolores when her daughter Selena, a successful Manhattan magazine writer, returns to cover the story.

On the Basis of Sex

Dorothy Kenyon

2018

Young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of sex discrimination.

The Boss

Ida Marquette

2016

A titan of industry is sent to prison after she's caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

Rumor Has It...

Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)

2005

Sarah Huttinger's return home with her fiance convinces her that the sedate, proper, country-club lifestyle of her family isn't for her – and that maybe the Huttinger family isn't even hers – as she uncovers secrets that suggest the Huttingers are neither sedate nor proper.

Bad Santa 2

Sunny Soke

2016

Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie Soke teams up with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Along for the ride is chubby and cheery Thurman Merman, a 250-pound ray of sunshine who brings out Willie's sliver of humanity. Issues arise when the pair are joined by Willie's horror story of a mother, who raises the bar for the gang's ambitions, while somehow lowering the standards of criminal behavior.

Fred Claus

Mother Claus

2007

Fred Claus and Santa Claus have been estranged brothers for many years. Now Fred must reconcile his differences with his brother whom he believes overshadows him. When an efficiency expert assesses the workings at the North Pole and threatens to shut Santa down, Fred must help his brother to save Christmas.

Dragonfly

Mrs. Belmont

2002

A grieving doctor is being contacted by his late wife through his patient's near death experiences.

About Schmidt

Roberta Hertzel

2002

A recently retired man embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding, only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.

Dick Tracy

Mrs. Green

1990

The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.

Primary Colors

Libby Holden

1998

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

A Little Bit of Heaven

Beverly Corbett

2011

A guarded woman finds out she's dying of cancer but, when she meets her match, the threat of falling in love is scarier than death.

The Great Lillian Hall

Edith Wilson

2024

Lillian Hall, a Broadway actress, has never missed a performance throughout her long, illustrious career. Yet in the rehearsals her confidence is challenged. People and events conspire to take away her ability to do what she loves most.