Kathy Bates
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).
Known for
Acting163
tvMatlock
2024
Madeline 'Matty' Matlock
movieThe Great Lillian Hall
2024
Edith Wilson
movieA Family Affair
2024
Leila Ford
movieSummer Camp
2024
Ginny Moon
movieTitanic: Stories from the Heart
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Miracle Club
2023
Eileen Dunne
movieAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
2023
Sylvia Simon
movieHome
2021
Bernadette
movieHannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieRichard Jewell
2019
Bobi Jewell
movieThe Highwaymen
2019
Ma Ferguson
movieThe Death & Life of John F. Donovan
2019
Barbara Haggermaker
movieOn the Basis of Sex
2018
Dorothy Kenyon
movieKrystal
2018
Vera
tvDisjointed
2017
Ruth
tvFEUD
2017
Joan Blondell
movieBad Santa 2
2016
Sunny Soke
tvChelsea
2016
Self
movieThe Boss
2016
Ida Marquette
movieThe Great Gilly Hopkins
2015
Maime Trotter
tvThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
Self - Guest
movieBoychoir
2015
Headmistress
Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
2014
Self – Stella Mae (archive footage)
movieTammy
2014
Lenore
tvAmerican Horror Story
2011
Delphine LaLaurie / Ethel Darling / Iris / Agnes Mary Winstead / Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie
movieMidnight in Paris
2011
Gertrude Stein
movieYou May Not Kiss the Bride
2011
Bryan's Mother
movieA Little Bit of Heaven
2011
Beverly Corbett
tvHarry's Law
2011
Harriet 'Harry' Korn
movieThe Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
2009
Pancho Barnes (Voice)
tvAlice
2009
Queen of Hearts
movieThe Blind Side
2009
Miss Sue
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
movieChéri
2009
Madame Peloux
movieRevolutionary Road
2008
Mrs. Helen Givings
movieThe Day the Earth Stood Still
2008
Regina Jackson
movieTyler Perry's The Family That Preys
2008
Charlotte Cartwright
movieThe Golden Compass
2007
Hester (voice)
movieP.S. I Love You
2007
Patricia
movieFred Claus
2007
Mother Claus
movieBee Movie
2007
Janet Benson (voice)
movieChristmas Is Here Again
2007
Miss Dowdy (voice)
tvThe Big Bang Theory
2007
Mrs. Fowler
movieGuilty Hearts
2007
The Judge
tvChelsea Lately
2007
Self (archive footage)
movieCharlotte's Web
2006
Bitsy the Cow (voice)
movieBonneville
2006
Margene Cunningham
movieRelative Strangers
2006
Agnes Menure
movieRumor Has It...
2005
Aunt Mitsy (uncredited)
movieAmbulance Girl
2005
Jane Stern
movieWarm Springs
2005
Helena Mahoney
tvThe Office
2005
Jo Bennett
tvAmerican Dad!
2005
D.O. Rothy (voice)
movieHansel and Gretel
2005
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Bridge of San Luis Rey
2004
The Marquesa
movieThe Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
2004
Narrator (voice)
moviePopeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy
2004
Siren / Sea Hag (voice)
movieLittle Black Book
2004
Kippie Kann
movieAround the World in 80 Days
2004
Queen Victoria
movieTupperware!
2004
Narrator
tvTwo and a Half Men
2003
Charlie Harper
movieCelebrity Naked Ambition
2003
Self (archive footage)
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Self - Guest
movieLove Liza
2002
Mary Ann Bankhead
movieAbout Schmidt
2002
Roberta Hertzel
movieUnconditional Love
2002
Grace Beasley
movieDragonfly
2002
Mrs. Belmont
movieMaking Rat Race
2002
Herself
movieMy Sister's Keeper
2002
Christine Chapman
movieAmerican Outlaws
2001
Ma James
movieRat Race
2001
The Squirrel Lady (uncredited)
tvSix Feet Under
2001
Bettina
movieWithout Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
2000
Frances Marion (voice)
movieBruno
2000
Mother Superior
movieAnnie
1999
Miss Agatha Hannigan
Baby Steps
1999
Mrs. Mellon
movieA Civil Action
1998
Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
movieThe Waterboy
1998
Mama Boucher
movieThe Effects of Magic
1998
Raphaella, the Magic Bunny
moviePrimary Colors
1998
Libby Holden
movieSwept from the Sea
1998
Miss Swaffer
movieTitanic
1997
Molly Brown
tvThe View
1997
Self
tvKing of the Hill
1997
Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (voice)
movieThe War at Home
1996
Maurine Collier
movieDiabolique
1996
Det. Shirley Vogel
movieThe Late Shift
1996
Helen Kushnick
tv3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
Charlotte Everly
movieThe West Side Waltz
1995
Mr. Goo
tvMADtv
1995
Stuart's Grandma
movieAngus
1995
Meg Bethune
movieTalking With
1995
Big Eight (segment "Rodeo")
movieDolores Claiborne
1995
Dolores Claiborne
movieCurse of the Starving Class
1994
Ella Tate
movieNorth
1994
Alaskan Mom
tvThe Stand
1994
Rae Flowers (uncredited)
movieA Home of Our Own
1993
Frances Lacey
movieUsed People
1992
Bibby Berman
movieHostages
1992
Peggy Say
moviePrelude to a Kiss
1992
Leah Blier
tvShelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992
Narrator (voice)
movieFried Green Tomatoes
1991
Evelyn Couch
movieAt Play in the Fields of the Lord
1991
Hazel Quarrier
movieShadows and Fog
1991
Prostitute
The Road to Mecca
1991
Elsa Barlow
movieMisery
1990
Annie Wilkes
movieWhite Palace
1990
Rosemary
movieDick Tracy
1990
Mrs. Green
movieMen Don't Leave
1990
Lisa Coleman
movieNo Place Like Home
1989
Bonnie Cooper
movieRoe vs. Wade
1989
Jessie
movieSigns of Life
1989
Mary Beth Alder
tvAmerican Experience
1988
Narrator (voice) / Narrator
movieArthur 2: On the Rocks
1988
Mrs. Canby
movieMy Best Friend Is a Vampire
1987
Helen Blake
movieMurder Ordained
1987
Bobbi Birk
tvMurder Ordained
1987
Bobbi Birk
movieThe Morning After
1986
Woman on Mateo Street
tvL.A. Law
1986
Charlotte Haley
movieJohnny Bull
1986
Katherine Kovacs
movieTwo of a Kind
1983
Furniture Man's Wife
tvSt. Elsewhere
1982
Polly Miller
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Mary Beth Alder
movieStraight Time
1978
Selma Darin
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Sally Allison
movieTaking Off
1971
Audition Singer
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Christine Chapman
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Nominee / Presenter / Self / Self - Nominee / Self - Audience Member / Self - Winner
Directing9
movieAmbulance Girl
2005
Director
movieFargo
2003
Director
tvEverwood
2002
Director
tvSix Feet Under
2001
Director
movieDash and Lilly
1999
Director
tvOz
1997
Director
movieTalking With
1995
Director
tvNYPD Blue
1993
Director
Production2
tvMatlock
2024
Executive Producer
movieThe Great Lillian Hall
2024
Executive Producer