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Kathy Bates

Known for: Acting

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).

Filmography 87

Titanic 1997Movie as Molly Brown
Matlock 2024TV show as Madeline 'Matty' Matlock
Harry's Law 2011TV show as Harriet 'Harry' Korn
Bee Movie 2007Movie NetflixAmazon Prime Video as Janet Benson (voice)
Revolutionary Road 2008Movie as Mrs. Helen Givings
Charlotte's Web 2006Movie as Bitsy the Cow (voice)
Misery 1990Movie as Annie Wilkes
Dolores Claiborne 1995Movie HBO Max as Dolores Claiborne
The Waterboy 1998Movie as Mama Boucher
Fred Claus 2007Movie as Mother Claus
The Boss 2016Movie Netflix as Ida Marquette
Alice 2009TV show as Queen of Hearts
Chéri 2009Movie as Madame Peloux
Dragonfly 2002Movie as Mrs. Belmont
About Schmidt 2002Movie as Roberta Hertzel
Diabolique 1996Movie as Det. Shirley Vogel
North 1994Movie as Alaskan Mom
Annie 1999Movie as Miss Agatha Hannigan
The Morning After 1986Movie as Woman on Mateo Street
Boychoir 2015Movie as Headmistress
Warm Springs 2005Movie HBO Max as Helena Mahoney
Home 2021Movie Amazon Prime Video as Bernadette
The Late Shift 1996Movie HBO Max as Helen Kushnick
My Sister's Keeper 2002Movie as Christine Chapman
Used People 1992Movie as Bibby Berman
Love Liza 2002Movie as Mary Ann Bankhead
Angus 1995Movie as Meg Bethune
Bonneville 2006Movie as Margene Cunningham
Bruno 2000Movie as Mother Superior
Signs of Life 1989Movie as Mary Beth Alder