Kathy Bates
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jun 28, 1948 (age 78)
- Place of birth
- Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Credits
- 164
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
Titanic
1997Movie
Molly Brown
The Big Bang Theory
2007TV
Mrs. Fowler
Midnight in Paris
2011Movie
Gertrude Stein
The Blind Side
2009Movie
Miss Sue
American Horror Story
2011TV
Delphine LaLaurie, Ethel Darling, Iris, Agnes Mary Winstead, Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie
The Office
2005TV
Jo Bennett
Filmography
Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life
2025Movie
Self
Matlock
2024TV
Madeline 'Matty' Matlock
The Great Lillian Hall
2024Movie
Edith Wilson
A Family Affair
2024Movie
Leila Ford
Summer Camp
2024Movie
Ginny Moon
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
2023TV
Self
Titanic: Stories from the Heart
2023Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Miracle Club
2023Movie
Eileen Dunne
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
2023Movie
Sylvia Simon
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022TV
Self
Home
2021Movie
Bernadette
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
2021Movie
Self (archive footage)
Richard Jewell
2019Movie
Bobi Jewell
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019TV
Self
The Highwaymen
2019Movie
Ma Ferguson
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan
2019Movie
Barbara Haggermaker
On the Basis of Sex
2018Movie
Dorothy Kenyon
Krystal
2018Movie
Vera
Disjointed
2017TV
Ruth
FEUD
2017TV
Joan Blondell
Bad Santa 2
2016Movie
Sunny Soke
Complete Unknown
2016Movie
Nina
Chelsea
2016TV
Self
The Boss
2016Movie
Ida Marquette
The Great Gilly Hopkins
2015Movie
Maime Trotter
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015TV
Self - Guest
Lip Sync Battle
2015TV
Self
Boychoir
2015Movie
Headmistress
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014TV
Self
Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
2014Movie
Self – Stella Mae (archive footage)
Tammy
2014Movie
Lenore
Cadaver
2012Movie
Beth
Reflections on Titanic
2012Movie
Self
American Horror Story
2011TV
Delphine LaLaurie, Ethel Darling, Iris, Agnes Mary Winstead, Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie
Midnight in Paris
2011Movie
Gertrude Stein
You May Not Kiss the Bride
2011Movie
Bryan's Mother
A Little Bit of Heaven
2011Movie
Beverly Corbett
Harry's Law
2011TV
Harriet 'Harry' Korn
Mike & Molly
2010TV
Kay
Valentine's Day
2010Movie
Susan
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
2009Movie
Pancho Barnes (Voice)
Alice
2009TV
Queen of Hearts
The Blind Side
2009Movie
Miss Sue
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009TV
Self - Guest
Chéri
2009Movie
Madame Peloux
Personal Effects
2009Movie
Gloria
Revolutionary Road
2008Movie
Mrs. Helen Givings
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2008Movie
Regina Jackson
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys
2008Movie
Charlotte Cartwright
Stand Up to Cancer
2008TV
Self
The Golden Compass
2007Movie
Hester (voice)
P.S. I Love You
2007Movie
Patricia
Fred Claus
2007Movie
Mother Claus
Bee Movie
2007Movie
Janet Benson (voice)
Christmas Is Here Again
2007Movie
Miss Dowdy (voice)
The Big Bang Theory
2007TV
Mrs. Fowler
Guilty Hearts
2007Movie
The Judge
Chelsea Lately
2007TV
Self (archive footage)
Charlotte's Web
2006Movie
Bitsy the Cow (voice)
Bonneville
2006Movie
Margene Cunningham
Relative Strangers
2006Movie
Agnes Menure
Failure to Launch
2006Movie
Sue
Rumor Has It...
2005Movie
Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)
Six Feet Under: In Memoriam
2005Movie
Herself
Ambulance Girl
2005Movie
Jane Stern
Warm Springs
2005Movie
Helena Mahoney
The Office
2005TV
Jo Bennett
American Dad!
2005TV
D.O. Rothy (voice)
Hansel and Gretel
2005Movie
Narrator (voice)
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
2004Movie
The Marquesa
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
2004Movie
Narrator (voice)
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy
2004Movie
Siren / Sea Hag (voice)
Little Black Book
2004Movie
Kippie Kann
Around the World in 80 Days
2004Movie
Queen Victoria
Tupperware!
2004Movie
Narrator
Two and a Half Men
2003TV
Charlie Harper
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003TV
Self
Celebrity Naked Ambition
2003Movie
Self (archive footage)
Declaration of Independence
2003Movie
Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003TV
Self - Guest
Misery Loves Company
2003Movie
Self
Love Liza
2002Movie
Mary Ann Bankhead
About Schmidt
2002Movie
Roberta Hertzel
Unconditional Love
2002Movie
Grace Beasley
Dragonfly
2002Movie
Mrs. Belmont
Making Rat Race
2002Movie
Herself
My Sister's Keeper
2002Movie
Christine Chapman
American Outlaws
2001Movie
Ma James
Rat Race
2001Movie
The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)
Six Feet Under
2001TV
Bettina
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
2000Movie
Frances Marion (voice)
Bruno
2000Movie
Mother Superior
Annie
1999Movie
Miss Agatha Hannigan
Baby Steps
1999Movie
Mrs. Mellon
A Civil Action
1998Movie
Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes
1998Movie
Self
The Waterboy
1998Movie
Mama Boucher
The Effects of Magic
1998Movie
Raphaella, the Magic Bunny
Titanic: Breaking New Ground
1998Movie
Self
Primary Colors
1998Movie
Libby Holden
Swept from the Sea
1998Movie
Miss Swaffer
Titanic
1997Movie
Molly Brown
The View
1997TV
Self
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
1997Movie
Self
King of the Hill
1997TV
Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice)
The War at Home
1996Movie
Maurine Collier
The Daily Show
1996TV
Self
Diabolique
1996Movie
Det. Shirley Vogel
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
1996Movie
Self
The Late Shift
1996Movie
Helen Kushnick
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996TV
Charlotte Everly
The West Side Waltz
1995Movie
Mr. Goo
MADtv
1995TV
Stuart's Grandma
Angus
1995Movie
Meg Bethune
Talking With
1995Movie
Big Eight (segment "Rodeo")
Dolores Claiborne
1995Movie
Dolores Claiborne
Curse of the Starving Class
1994Movie
Ella Tate
Inside the Actors Studio
1994TV
Self
North
1994Movie
Alaskan Mom
The Stand
1994TV
Rae Flowers (uncredited)
A Home of Our Own
1993Movie
Frances Lacey
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
1993Movie
Lunar Mom
Used People
1992Movie
Bibby Berman
Hostages
1992Movie
Peggy Say
Prelude to a Kiss
1992Movie
Leah Blier
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992TV
Narrator (voice)
Fried Green Tomatoes
1991Movie
Evelyn Couch
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
1991Movie
Hazel Quarrier
Shadows and Fog
1991Movie
Prostitute
The Road to Mecca
1991Movie
Elsa Barlow
Misery
1990Movie
Annie Wilkes
White Palace
1990Movie
Rosemary
Dick Tracy
1990Movie
Mrs. Green
Men Don't Leave
1990Movie
Lisa Coleman
No Place Like Home
1989Movie
Bonnie Cooper
High Stakes
1989Movie
Jill
Roe vs. Wade
1989Movie
Jessie
Signs of Life
1989Movie
Mary Beth Alder
American Experience
1988TV
Narrator (voice), Narrator
Arthur 2: On the Rocks
1988Movie
Mrs. Canby
China Beach
1988TV
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
1987Movie
Helen Blake
Summer Heat
1987Movie
Ruth
Murder Ordained
1987Movie
Bobbi Birk
Murder Ordained
1987TV
Bobbi Birk
The Morning After
1986Movie
Woman on Mateo Street
L.A. Law
1986TV
Charlotte Haley
Johnny Bull
1986Movie
Katherine Kovacs
Two of a Kind
1983Movie
Furniture Man's Wife
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
1982Movie
Stella Mae
St. Elsewhere
1982TV
Polly Miller
Cagney & Lacey
1982TV
American Playhouse
1982TV
Mary Beth Alder
Straight Time
1978Movie
Selma Darin
The Love Boat
1977TV
Sally Allison
Taking Off
1971Movie
Audition Singer
Great Performances
1971TV
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Oscars
1953TV
Self
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951TV
Christine Chapman
The Emmy Awards
1949TV
Self
Golden Globe Awards
1944TV
Self - Nominee / Presenter, Self, Self - Nominee, Self - Audience Member, Self - Winner
Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Classic Collection
TV
The Smack
Movie
Babs