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Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates

Acting • Memphis, Tennessee, USA • Born June 28, 1948

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).

54
Films
6.3
Avg Score

Filmography (54)

A Family Affair

A Family Affair

2024 • Comedy, Romance • 1h 54m
54
as Leila Ford
The Miracle Club

The Miracle Club

2023 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 30m
64
as Eileen Dunne
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

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

2023 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 46m
73
as Sylvia Simon
The Highwaymen

The Highwaymen

2019 • Thriller, Crime • 2h 13m
69
as Ma Ferguson
Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell

2019 • Drama, History • 2h 11m
75
as Bobi Jewell
On the Basis of Sex

On the Basis of Sex

2018 • Drama, History • 2h
71
as Dorothy Kenyon
Bad Santa 2

Bad Santa 2

2016 • Mystery, Comedy • 1h 32m
56
as Sunny Soke
The Boss

The Boss

2016 • Comedy • 1h 31m
54
as Ida Marquette
Tammy

Tammy

2014 • Comedy • 1h 37m
49
as Lenore
Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris

2011 • Comedy, Fantasy • 1h 34m
76
as Gertrude Stein
A Little Bit of Heaven

A Little Bit of Heaven

2011 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 46m
62
as Beverly Corbett
You May Not Kiss the Bride

You May Not Kiss the Bride

2011 • Action, Comedy • 1h 37m
54
as Bryan's Mother
Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

2010 • Comedy, Romance • 2h 5m
58
as Susan Milton
The Blind Side

The Blind Side

2009 • Drama • 2h 9m
76
as Miss Sue
Chéri

Chéri

2009 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 26m
61
as Madame Peloux
Personal Effects

Personal Effects

2009 • Drama • 1h 50m
62
as Gloria
The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2008 • Science Fiction, Thriller • 1h 44m
55
as Regina Jackson
Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road

2008 • Drama, Romance • 1h 59m
73
as Mrs. Helen Givings
The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass

2007 • Adventure, Fantasy • 1h 53m
61
as Hester (voice)
Bee Movie

Bee Movie

2007 • Adventure, Comedy • 1h 31m
61
as Janet Benson (voice)
Fred Claus

Fred Claus

2007 • Action, Comedy • 1h 55m
57
as Mother Claus
P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You

2007 • Drama, Romance • 2h 6m
70
as Patricia
Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

2006 • Comedy, Fantasy • 1h 37m
63
as Bitsy the Cow (voice)
Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch

2006 • Comedy, Romance • 1h 37m
57
as Sue
Bonneville

Bonneville

2006 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 33m
61
as Margene Cunningham
Relative Strangers

Relative Strangers

2006 • Comedy • 1h 24m
53
as Agnes Menure
Rumor Has It...

Rumor Has It...

2005 • Comedy, Romance • 1h 37m
55
as Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)
Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days

2004 • Action, Adventure • 2h
59
as Queen Victoria
Little Black Book

Little Black Book

2004 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 51m
53
as Kippie Kann
About Schmidt

About Schmidt

2002 • Comedy, Drama • 2h 5m
72
as Roberta Hertzel
Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love

2002 • Thriller, Comedy • 2h 4m
67
as Grace Beasley
Dragonfly

Dragonfly

2002 • Thriller, Drama • 1h 44m
61
as Mrs. Belmont
Rat Race

Rat Race

2001 • Adventure, Comedy • 1h 52m
65
as The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)
American Outlaws

American Outlaws

2001 • Action, Western • 1h 34m
59
as Ma James
Annie

Annie

1999 • Comedy, Family • 1h 30m
67
as Miss Agatha Hannigan
The Waterboy

The Waterboy

1998 • Comedy • 1h 30m
62
as Mama Boucher
Primary Colors

Primary Colors

1998 • Comedy, Drama • 2h 23m
67
as Libby Holden
A Civil Action

A Civil Action

1998 • Drama • 1h 55m
66
as Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
Titanic

Titanic

1997 • Drama, Romance • 3h 14m
79
as Molly Brown
Diabolique

Diabolique

1996 • Horror, Mystery • 1h 47m
54
as Det. Shirley Vogel
The Late Shift

The Late Shift

1996 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 35m
67
as Helen Kushnick
Dolores Claiborne

Dolores Claiborne

1995 • Mystery, Crime • 2h 12m
74
as Dolores Claiborne
North

North

1994 • Adventure, Comedy • 1h 27m
45
as Alaskan Mom
A Home of Our Own

A Home of Our Own

1993 • Drama • 1h 44m
71
as Frances Lacey
Prelude to a Kiss

Prelude to a Kiss

1992 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 45m
56
as Leah Blier
Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes

1991 • Comedy, Drama • 2h 10m
77
as Evelyn Couch
Shadows and Fog

Shadows and Fog

1991 • Mystery, Comedy • 1h 25m
67
as Prostitute
Dick Tracy

Dick Tracy

1990 • Adventure, Comedy • 1h 45m
62
as Mrs. Green
Misery

Misery

1990 • Thriller, Drama • 1h 47m
78
as Annie Wilkes
White Palace

White Palace

1990 • Drama, Romance • 1h 43m
65
as Rosemary
Men Don't Leave

Men Don't Leave

1990 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 55m
66
as Lisa Coleman
My Best Friend Is a Vampire

My Best Friend Is a Vampire

1987 • Horror, Comedy • 1h 29m
60
as Helen Blake
Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind

1983 • Comedy, Fantasy • 1h 28m
47
as Furniture Man's Wife
Straight Time

Straight Time

1978 • Crime, Drama • 1h 54m
74
as Selma Darin

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