Kathy Bates
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).
Photos
Movies (119)
Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life
2025 · Self
The Great Lillian Hall
2024 · Edith Wilson, Executive Producer
Un asunto familiar
2024 · Leila Ford
Campamento de Verano
2024 · Ginny Moon
Titanic: Stories from the Heart
2023 · Self (archive footage)
El Club de los Milagros
2023 · Eileen Dunne
¿Estás ahí, Dios? Soy yo, Margaret
2023 · Sylvia Simon
Home
2021 · Bernadette
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
2021 · Self (archive footage)
El caso de Richard Jewell
2019 · Bobi Jewell
Emboscada Final
2019 · Ma Ferguson
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan
2019 · Barbara Haggermaker
La voz de la igualdad
2018 · Dorothy Kenyon
Krystal
2018 · Vera
Un Santa no tan Santo 2
2016 · Sunny Soke
Complete Unknown
2016 · Nina
La Jefa
2016 · Ida Marquette
La Gran Gilly Hopkins
2015 · Maime Trotter
Boychoir
2015 · Headmistress
Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
2014 · Self – Stella Mae (archive footage)
Tammy
2014 · Lenore
Cadaver
2012 · Beth
Reflections on Titanic
2012 · Self
Medianoche en París
2011 · Gertrude Stein
No puedes besar a la novia
2011 · Bryan's Mother
Un pedacito de cielo (A Little Bit of Heaven)
2011 · Beverly Corbett
Día de los Enamorados
2010 · Susan
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
2009 · Pancho Barnes (Voice)
Un sueño posible
2009 · Miss Sue
Chéri
2009 · Madame Peloux
Efectos personales
2009 · Gloria
Sólo un sueño
2008 · Mrs. Helen Givings
El día que la Tierra se detuvo
2008 · Regina Jackson
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys
2008 · Charlotte Cartwright
La brújula dorada
2007 · Hester (voice)
Posdata, Te Amo
2007 · Patricia
El hermano de Santa
2007 · Mother Claus
Bee Movie: La historia de una abeja
2007 · Janet Benson (voice)
Otra vez es navidad
2007 · Miss Dowdy (voice)
Guilty Hearts
2007 · The Judge
La telaraña de Charlotte
2006 · Bitsy the Cow (voice)
Bonneville
2006 · Margene Cunningham
Relative Strangers
2006 · Agnes Menure
Soltero en Casa
2006 · Sue
Dicen por ahí...
2005 · Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)
Six Feet Under: In Memoriam
2005 · Herself
Ambulance Girl
2005 · Jane Stern, Director
Warm Springs
2005 · Helena Mahoney
Hansel and Gretel
2005 · Narrator (voice)
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
2004 · The Marquesa
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
2004 · Narrator (voice)
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy
2004 · Siren / Sea Hag (voice)
Las Ex Novias De Mi Novio
2004 · Kippie Kann
La Vuelta al Mundo en 80 Días
2004 · Queen Victoria
Tupperware!
2004 · Narrator
Fargo
2003 · Director
Celebrity Naked Ambition
2003 · Self (archive footage)
Declaration of Independence
2003 · Self
Misery Loves Company
2003 · Self
Con amor, Liza
2002 · Mary Ann Bankhead
Las Confesiones del Sr. Schmidt
2002 · Roberta Hertzel
Unconditional Love
2002 · Grace Beasley
El misterio de la libélula
2002 · Mrs. Belmont
Making Rat Race
2002 · Herself
My Sister's Keeper
2002 · Christine Chapman
Forajidos
2001 · Ma James
El Mundo está Loco Loco
2001 · The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
2000 · Frances Marion (voice)
Bruno
2000 · Mother Superior
Annie
1999 · Miss Agatha Hannigan
Baby Steps
1999 · Mrs. Mellon
Dash and Lilly
1999 · Director
Una Acción Civil
1998 · Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes
1998 · Self
El aguador
1998 · Mama Boucher
The Effects of Magic
1998 · Raphaella, the Magic Bunny
Titanic: Breaking New Ground
1998 · Self
El Escándalo
1998 · Libby Holden
Swept from the Sea
1998 · Miss Swaffer
Titanic
1997 · Molly Brown
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
1997 · Self
The War at Home
1996 · Maurine Collier
Diabólicas (Diabolique)
1996 · Det. Shirley Vogel
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
1996 · Self
Horario nocturno
1996 · Helen Kushnick
The West Side Waltz
1995 · Mr. Goo
Angus
1995 · Meg Bethune
Talking With
1995 · Big Eight (segment "Rodeo"), Director
Eclipse total
1995 · Dolores Claiborne
Curse of the Starving Class
1994 · Ella Tate
North
1994 · Alaskan Mom
Nuestra propia casa
1993 · Frances Lacey
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun
1993 · Lunar Mom
Used People
1992 · Bibby Berman
Hostages
1992 · Peggy Say
Prelude to a Kiss
1992 · Leah Blier
Tomates Verdes Fritos
1991 · Evelyn Couch
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
1991 · Hazel Quarrier
Sombras y niebla
1991 · Prostitute
The Road to Mecca
1991 · Elsa Barlow
Miseria
1990 · Annie Wilkes
Pasión sin barreras
1990 · Rosemary
Dick Tracy
1990 · Mrs. Green
Men Don't Leave
1990 · Lisa Coleman
No Place Like Home
1989 · Bonnie Cooper
High Stakes
1989 · Jill
Roe vs. Wade
1989 · Jessie
Signs of Life
1989 · Mary Beth Alder
Arthur 2: On the Rocks
1988 · Mrs. Canby
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
1987 · Helen Blake
Summer Heat
1987 · Ruth
Murder Ordained
1987 · Bobbi Birk
The Morning After
1986 · Woman on Mateo Street
Johnny Bull
1986 · Katherine Kovacs
Two of a Kind
1983 · Furniture Man's Wife
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
1982 · Stella Mae
Straight Time
1978 · Selma Darin
Taking Off
1971 · Audition Singer
The Smack
· Babs
TV shows (51)
Matlock
2024 · Madeline 'Matty' Matlock, Executive Producer
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
2023 · Self
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022 · Self
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Self
Fumados
2017 · Ruth
FEUD
2017 · Joan Blondell
Chelsea
2016 · Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Self - Guest
Lip Sync Battle
2015 · Self
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014 · Self
American Horror Story
2011 · Delphine LaLaurie, Ethel Darling, Iris, Agnes Mary Winstead, Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie
Harry's Law
2011 · Harriet 'Harry' Korn
Mike & Molly
2010 · Kay
Alice
2009 · Queen of Hearts
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
Stand Up to Cancer
2008 · Self
La Teoría del Big Bang
2007 · Mrs. Fowler
Chelsea Lately
2007 · Self (archive footage)
La Oficina
2005 · Jo Bennett
American Dad!
2005 · D.O. Rothy (voice)
Dos Hombres y Medio
2003 · Charlie Harper
Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self - Guest
Everwood
2002 · Director
Seis Pies Bajo Tierra
2001 · Bettina, Director
The View
1997 · Self
Oz
1997 · Director
Los Reyes de la Colina
1997 · Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice)
The Daily Show
1996 · Self
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996 · Charlotte Everly
MADtv
1995 · Stuart's Grandma
Inside the Actors Studio
1994 · Self
La Danza de la Muerte
1994 · Rae Flowers (uncredited)
NYPD Blue
1993 · Director
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993 · Director
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992 · Narrator (voice)
American Experience
1988 · Narrator (voice), Narrator
China Beach
1988
Murder Ordained
1987 · Bobbi Birk
L.A. Law
1986 · Charlotte Haley
St. Elsewhere
1982 · Polly Miller
Cagney & Lacey
1982
American Playhouse
1982 · Mary Beth Alder
The Love Boat
1977 · Sally Allison
Great Performances
1971 · Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Oscars
1953 · Self
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951 · Christine Chapman
The Emmy Awards
1949 · Self
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Nominee / Presenter, Self, Self - Nominee, Self - Audience Member, Self - Winner
Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Classic Collection