Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates

Acting • Born 1948-06-28

Acting4Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Biography

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

169 credits
Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes

Movie • 1991

Evelyn Couch

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Movie • 2008

Regina Jackson

Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days

Movie • 2004

Queen Victoria

Misery

Misery

Movie • 1990

Annie Wilkes

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Movie • 2002

Mrs. Belmont

Swept from the Sea

Swept from the Sea

Movie • 1998

Miss Swaffer

The Waterboy

The Waterboy

Movie • 1998

Mama Boucher

Prelude to a Kiss

Prelude to a Kiss

Movie • 1992

Leah Blier

About Schmidt

About Schmidt

Movie • 2002

Roberta Hertzel

Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road

Movie • 2008

Mrs. Helen Givings

Diabolique

Diabolique

Movie • 1996

Det. Shirley Vogel

Fred Claus

Fred Claus

Movie • 2007

Mother Claus

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper

Movie • 2002

Christine Chapman

The Late Shift

The Late Shift

Movie • 1996

Helen Kushnick

Bee Movie

Bee Movie

Movie • 2007

Janet Benson (voice)

The Blind Side

The Blind Side

Movie • 2009

Miss Sue

P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You

Movie • 2007

Patricia

Chéri

Chéri

Movie • 2009

Madame Peloux

Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch

Movie • 2006

Sue

Straight Time

Straight Time

Movie • 1978

Selma Darin

North

North

Movie • 1994

Alaskan Mom

Dolores Claiborne

Dolores Claiborne

Movie • 1995

Dolores Claiborne

Misery Loves Company

Misery Loves Company

Movie • 2003

Self

Primary Colors

Primary Colors

Movie • 1998

Libby Holden

Christmas Is Here Again

Christmas Is Here Again

Movie • 2007

Miss Dowdy (voice)

Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Movie • 2024

Ginny Moon

Angus

Angus

Movie • 1995

Meg Bethune

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

Movie • 2010

Susan Milton

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Movie • 1988

Mrs. Canby

Annie

Annie

Movie • 1999

Miss Agatha Hannigan

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

Movie • 2006

Bitsy the Cow (voice)

American Outlaws

American Outlaws

Movie • 2001

Ma James

White Palace

White Palace

Movie • 1990

Rosemary

A Civil Action

A Civil Action

Movie • 1998

Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)

Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind

Movie • 1983

Furniture Man's Wife

Little Black Book

Little Black Book

Movie • 2004

Kippie Kann

Personal Effects

Personal Effects

Movie • 2009

Gloria

Relative Strangers

Relative Strangers

Movie • 2006

Agnes Menure

Love Liza

Love Liza

Movie • 2002

Mary Ann Bankhead

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys

Movie • 2008

Charlotte Cartwright

Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love

Movie • 2002

Grace Beasley

A Little Bit of Heaven

A Little Bit of Heaven

Movie • 2011

Beverly Corbett

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

Movie • 2004

Narrator (voice)

The Bridge of San Luis Rey

The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Movie • 2004

The Marquesa

Bonneville

Bonneville

Movie • 2006

Margene Cunningham

Guilty Hearts

Guilty Hearts

Movie • 2007

The Judge

Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

Movie • 1982

Stella Mae

At Play in the Fields of the Lord

At Play in the Fields of the Lord

Movie • 1991

Hazel Quarrier

You May Not Kiss the Bride

You May Not Kiss the Bride

Movie • 2011

Bryan's Mother

Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun

Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun

Movie • 1993

Lunar Mom

Men Don't Leave

Men Don't Leave

Movie • 1990

Lisa Coleman

The Smack

The Smack

Movie

Babs

A Home of Our Own

A Home of Our Own

Movie • 1993

Frances Lacey

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris

Movie • 2011

Gertrude Stein

Bruno

Bruno

Movie • 2000

Mother Superior

The War at Home

The War at Home

Movie • 1996

Maurine Collier

Summer Heat

Summer Heat

Movie • 1987

Ruth

Curse of the Starving Class

Curse of the Starving Class

Movie • 1994

Ella Tate

No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

Movie • 1989

Bonnie Cooper

Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony

Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony

Movie • 2021

Self (archive footage)

Tammy

Tammy

Movie • 2014

Lenore

High Stakes

High Stakes

Movie • 1989

Jill

My Best Friend Is a Vampire

My Best Friend Is a Vampire

Movie • 1987

Helen Blake

A Family Affair

A Family Affair

Movie • 2024

Leila Ford

Shadows and Fog

Shadows and Fog

Movie • 1991

Prostitute

Ambulance Girl

Ambulance Girl

Movie • 2005

Jane Stern

Titanic: Stories from the Heart

Titanic: Stories from the Heart

Movie • 2023

Self (archive footage)

Boychoir

Boychoir

Movie • 2015

Headmistress

Used People

Used People

Movie • 1992

Bibby Berman

The Boss

The Boss

Movie • 2016

Ida Marquette

Cadaver

Cadaver

Movie • 2012

Beth

Roe vs. Wade

Roe vs. Wade

Movie • 1989

Jessie

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

Movie • 1987

Bobbi Birk

Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy

Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy

Movie • 2004

Siren / Sea Hag (voice)

Complete Unknown

Complete Unknown

Movie • 2016

Nina

The Great Gilly Hopkins

The Great Gilly Hopkins

Movie • 2015

Maime Trotter

Bad Santa 2

Bad Santa 2

Movie • 2016

Sunny Soke

The Great Lillian Hall

The Great Lillian Hall

Movie • 2024

Edith Wilson

The Road to Mecca

The Road to Mecca

Movie • 1991

Elsa Barlow

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

Movie • 2003

Self

Taking Off

Taking Off

Movie • 1971

Audition Singer

Krystal

Krystal

Movie • 2018

Vera

Talking With

Talking With

Movie • 1995

Big Eight (segment "Rodeo")

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

Movie • 2019

Barbara Haggermaker

The Effects of Magic

The Effects of Magic

Movie • 1998

Raphaella, the Magic Bunny

Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life

Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life

Movie • 1997

Self

The West Side Waltz

The West Side Waltz

Movie • 1995

Mr. Goo

The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club

The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club

Movie • 2009

Pancho Barnes (Voice)

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass

Movie • 2007

Hester (voice)

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood

Movie • 2000

Frances Marion (voice)

Hostages

Hostages

Movie • 1992

Peggy Say

On the Basis of Sex

On the Basis of Sex

Movie • 2018

Dorothy Kenyon

Dick Tracy

Dick Tracy

Movie • 1990

Mrs. Green

The Morning After

The Morning After

Movie • 1986

Woman on Mateo Street

The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful

The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful

Movie • 1996

Self

The Highwaymen

The Highwaymen

Movie • 2019

Ma Ferguson

Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell

Movie • 2019

Bobi Jewell

Rumor Has It...

Rumor Has It...

Movie • 2005

Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)

Home

Home

Movie • 2021

Bernadette

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

Movie • 2005

Narrator (voice)

Warm Springs

Warm Springs

Movie • 2005

Helena Mahoney

Six Feet Under: In Memoriam

Six Feet Under: In Memoriam

Movie • 2005

Herself

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

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

Movie • 2023

Sylvia Simon

Tupperware!

Tupperware!

Movie • 1994

Narrator

Johnny Bull

Johnny Bull

Movie • 1986

Katherine Kovacs

Baby Steps

Baby Steps

Movie • 1999

Mrs. Mellon

The Miracle Club

The Miracle Club

Movie • 2023

Eileen Dunne

Reflections on Titanic

Reflections on Titanic

Movie • 2012

Self

Signs of Life

Signs of Life

Movie • 1989

Mary Beth Alder

Making Rat Race

Making Rat Race

Movie • 2002

Herself

Titanic

Titanic

Movie • 1997

Molly Brown

Titanic: Breaking New Ground

Titanic: Breaking New Ground

Movie • 1998

Self

Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes

Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes

Movie • 1998

Self

Rat Race

Rat Race

Movie • 2001

The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)

Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life

Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life

Movie • 2025

Self

Celebrity Naked Ambition

Celebrity Naked Ambition

Movie • 2003

Self (archive footage)

St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere

TV • 1982

Polly Miller

Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under

TV • 2001

Bettina

Inside the Actors Studio

Inside the Actors Studio

TV • 1994

Self

L.A. Law

L.A. Law

TV • 1986

Charlotte Haley

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

TV • 1977

Sally Allison

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

TV • 1996

Self

China Beach

China Beach

TV • 1988

The Office

The Office

TV • 2005

Jo Bennett

The View

The View

TV • 1997

Self

Cagney & Lacey

Cagney & Lacey

TV • 1982

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

TV • 1951

Christine Chapman

Harry's Law

Harry's Law

TV • 2011

Harriet 'Harry' Korn

Alice

Alice

TV • 2009

Queen of Hearts

American Horror Story

American Horror Story

TV • 2011

Delphine LaLaurie

Matlock

Matlock

TV • 2024

Madeline 'Matty' Matlock

American Horror Story

American Horror Story

TV • 2011

Ethel Darling

American Horror Story

American Horror Story

TV • 2011

Iris

Two and a Half Men

Two and a Half Men

TV • 2003

Charlie Harper

American Horror Story

American Horror Story

TV • 2011

Agnes Mary Winstead

Disjointed

Disjointed

TV • 2017

Ruth

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

TV • 1962

Self

Chelsea

Chelsea

TV • 2016

Self

American Experience

American Experience

TV • 1988

Narrator (voice)

Lip Sync Battle

Lip Sync Battle

TV • 2015

Self

American Horror Story

American Horror Story

TV • 2011

Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory

TV • 2007

Mrs. Fowler

FEUD

FEUD

TV • 2017

Joan Blondell

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

TV • 1987

Bobbi Birk

Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories

Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories

TV • 1992

Narrator (voice)

Stand Up to Cancer

Stand Up to Cancer

TV • 2008

Self

3rd Rock from the Sun

3rd Rock from the Sun

TV • 1996

Charlotte Everly

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

TV • 2009

Self - Guest

King of the Hill

King of the Hill

TV • 1997

Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice)

American Dad!

American Dad!

TV • 2005

D.O. Rothy (voice)

The Oscars

The Oscars

TV • 1953

Self

Mike & Molly

Mike & Molly

TV • 2010

Kay

Great Performances

Great Performances

TV • 1971

Self

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

TV • 2003

Self

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

TV • 2015

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Nominee / Presenter

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Nominee

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Audience Member

The Stand

The Stand

TV • 1994

Rae Flowers (uncredited)

The Jennifer Hudson Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show

TV • 2022

Self

American Experience

American Experience

TV • 1988

Narrator

Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter

Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter

TV • 2023

Self

MADtv

MADtv

TV • 1995

Stuart's Grandma

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

TV • 2014

Self

Chelsea Lately

Chelsea Lately

TV • 2007

Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

TV • 2003

Self

The Emmy Awards

The Emmy Awards

TV • 1949

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

TV • 1944

Self - Winner