Kathy Bates
Birthday:
Birthplace:
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Actress Kathy Bates has been involved in the arts in one way or another since graduating from Southern Methodist University. Among the Memphis native's earliest jobs were a stint as a singing waitress in a Catskill resort and a sojourn as a gift shop cashier in New York's Museum of Modern Art. Bates was type-cast in character roles early on, which assured her a lot more work than the thousands of faceless ingenues in the business. Her film debut occurred with 1971's Taking Off, and she made her off-Broadway debut five years later in Vanities.For a long while, Bates made her name on the stage, only to see her roles go to other actresses in the plays' subsequent film adaptations. In 1983, she was nominated for a Tony award for her stage appearance as a garrulous would-be suicide in 'Night, Mother, a role played on screen by Sissy Spacek. She also appeared as Lenny McGrath in Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Crimes of the Heart, a role played on screen by Diane Keaton. And in 1987, playwright Terrence McNally wrote a part specifically tailored to Bates' talents: the much-abused waitress Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, a role which won her an Obie award, and, following a familiar pattern, was played on screen by Michelle Pfeiffer.Bates finally got to star in a movie herself in 1990. And what a starring role it was: in Misery, she portrayed the psychotic "Number One Fan" of romance writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan), a searing performance which earned the actress an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Appropriately enough, Hollywood screenwriters subsequently began making more room for Bates in their scripts. She worked steadily throughout the rest of the decade in films of greatly varying quality. Particular highlights included Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), A Prelude to a Kiss (1992), Dolores Claiborne (1995), Titanic (1997), and Primary Colors (1998), the latter of which featured Bates giving an Oscar and Golden Globe nominated performance as a political muckraker. Following her firey, foul-mouthed performance in that thinly veilied political biopic, Bates added a new credential to her resume, that of director. Initially taking the helm for the made-for-cable feature Dash and Lilly, Bates would subsequently direct episodes of the quirky HBO drama series Six Feet Under, simultaniously taking minor film roles before returning to more substantial roles with the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame entry My Sister's Keeper. Roles in Love Liza and Dragonfly (both 2002) were soon to follow, and with her turn as an extroverted mother who catches the attention of Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt Bates would recieve her third Oscar nomination.She directed a number of episodes of the HBO series Six Feet Under before joining the cast in season 3 as Bettina. The next year she portrayed Queen Victoria in the big-budget remake of Around the World in 80 Days. She directed he feature Ambulance Girl in 2005. She continued to act steadily in a variety of projects including Failure to Launch, P.S. I Love You, Fred Claus, Bee Movie, and Revolutionary Road. She provided expert support for Sandra Bulock as the younger actress was winning an Oscar in The Blind Side, and Bates joined the cast of The Office in 2009. She was part of the large ensemble in 2010'ss Valentine's Day, and in 2011 starred as Gertrude Stein in Woody Allen's Oscar winning Midnight in Paris. That same year she launched her own network Drama series Harry's Law.
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
MOVIES
RATING | TITLE | CREDIT | BOX OFFICE | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | Home |
|
— | 2020 |
20% | The Death and Life of John F. Donovan |
|
— | 2019 |
77% | Richard Jewell |
|
— | 2019 |
58% | The Highwaymen |
|
— | 2019 |
72% | On the Basis of Sex |
|
— | 2019 |
No Score Yet | En kvinna bland män |
|
— | 2018 |
14% | Krystal |
|
— | 2018 |
No Score Yet | Rx Early Detection: A Cancer Journey With Sandra Lee |
|
— | 2018 |
No Score Yet | Titanic in Dolby Vision |
|
— | 2017 |
24% | Bad Santa 2 |
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$17.7M | 2016 |
65% | The Great Gilly Hopkins |
|
— | 2016 |
51% | Complete Unknown |
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$0.2M | 2016 |
21% | The Boss |
|
$54.5M | 2016 |
91% | Grandma |
|
— | 2015 |
91% | When Marnie Was There |
|
$0.5M | 2015 |
24% | Tammy |
|
$51.1M | 2014 |
0% | You May Not Kiss the Bride |
|
— | 2012 |
4% | A Little Bit Of Heaven |
|
$0.5M | 2012 |
93% | Midnight in Paris |
|
$55.5M | 2011 |
No Score Yet | Guilty Hearts |
|
— | 2011 |
18% | Valentine's Day |
|
$110.5M | 2010 |
66% | The Blind Side |
|
$255.9M | 2009 |
50% | Chéri |
|
$2.7M | 2009 |
No Score Yet | The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club |
|
— | 2009 |
No Score Yet | Personal Effects |
|
— | 2009 |
67% | Revolutionary Road |
|
$22.9M | 2008 |
20% | The Day the Earth Stood Still |
|
$79.2M | 2008 |
22% | Alice |
|
— | 2008 |
53% | The Family That Preys |
|
$37.1M | 2008 |
25% | P.S. I Love You |
|
$53.6M | 2007 |
42% | The Golden Compass |
|
$70.2M | 2007 |
21% | Fred Claus |
|
$72M | 2007 |
49% | Bee Movie |
|
$126.6M | 2007 |
No Score Yet | Christmas Is Here Again |
|
— | 2007 |
No Score Yet | James Marshall's Cinderella: And More Beloved Fairy Tales |
|
— | 2007 |
78% | Charlotte's Web |
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$82.2M | 2006 |
41% | Bonneville |
|
$0.4M | 2006 |
No Score Yet | Relative Strangers |
|
— | 2006 |
24% | Failure to Launch |
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$88.7M | 2006 |
No Score Yet | The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing |
|
— | 2006 |
No Score Yet | Ambulance Girl |
|
— | 2005 |
4% | The Bridge of San Luis Rey |
|
— | 2005 |
No Score Yet | Warm Springs |
|
— | 2005 |
No Score Yet | Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy |
|
— | 2004 |
22% | Little Black Book |
|
$20.5M | 2004 |
32% | Around the World in 80 Days |
|
— | 2004 |
85% | About Schmidt |
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$65M | 2002 |
No Score Yet | My Sister's Keeper |
|
— | 2002 |
14% | Unconditional Love |
|
— | 2002 |
54% | Love Liza |
|
— | 2002 |
44% | Rat Race |
|
$55.9M | 2001 |
14% | American Outlaws |
|
$11.9M | 2001 |
No Score Yet | Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood |
|
— | 2001 |
20% | Bruno |
|
— | 2000 |
No Score Yet | Annie |
|
— | 1999 |
No Score Yet | Dash and Lilly |
|
— | 1999 |
61% | A Civil Action |
|
— | 1998 |
34% | The Waterboy |
|
— | 1998 |
81% | Primary Colors |
|
— | 1998 |
28% | Swept from the Sea |
|
— | 1998 |
89% | Titanic |
|
— | 1997 |
No Score Yet | The Late Shift |
|
— | 1996 |
60% | The War at Home |
|
— | 1996 |
18% | Diabolique |
|
— | 1996 |
No Score Yet | The West Side Waltz |
|
— | 1995 |
65% | Angus |
|
— | 1995 |
84% | Dolores Claiborne |
|
— | 1995 |
14% | North |
|
— | 1994 |
No Score Yet | Curse of the Starving Class |
|
— | 1994 |
No Score Yet | Hostages |
|
— | 1993 |
50% | A Home of Our Own |
|
— | 1993 |
63% | Prelude to a Kiss |
|
— | 1992 |
44% | Used People |
|
— | 1992 |
52% | Shadows and Fog |
|
— | 1992 |
No Score Yet | Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories |
|
— | 1992 |
74% | Fried Green Tomatoes |
|
— | 1991 |
57% | At Play in the Fields of the Lord |
|
— | 1991 |
90% | Misery |
|
— | 1990 |
52% | White Palace |
|
— | 1990 |
81% | Men Don't Leave |
|
— | 1990 |
63% | Dick Tracy |
|
— | 1990 |
No Score Yet | High Stakes |
|
— | 1989 |
No Score Yet | Signs Of Life |
|
— | 1989 |
No Score Yet | Roe vs. Wade |
|
— | 1989 |
13% | Arthur 2: On the Rocks |
|
— | 1988 |
No Score Yet | Summer Heat |
|
— | 1987 |
No Score Yet | Murder Ordained |
|
— | 1987 |
63% | The Morning After |
|
— | 1986 |
18% | Two of a Kind |
|
— | 1983 |
80% | Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean |
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— | 1982 |
75% | Straight Time |
|
— | 1978 |
TV
RATING | TITLE | CREDIT | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet |
Jimmy Kimmel Live
2003
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Conan
2010
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Late Late Show With James Corden
2015
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Lip Sync Battle
2015-2019
|
|
|
81% |
The Big Bang Theory
2007-2019
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Talk
2010
|
|
|
76% |
American Horror Story
2012-2019
|
|
|
41% |
Chelsea
2016-2017
|
|
|
19% |
Disjointed
2017
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
2015
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Late Night With Seth Meyers
2014
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Sunday Morning
2011-2018
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Tavis Smiley
2013-2018
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Dr. Oz Show
2009
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Mike & Molly
2010-2016
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
American Horror Story: Freak Show
2014
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
American Horror Story: Hotel
2015
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen
2009
|
|
|
65% |
Two and a Half Men
2003-2015
|
|
|
43% |
Harry's Law
2011-2012
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
1992-2014
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
2009-2014
|
|
|
81% |
The Office
2005-2013
|
|
|
33% |
Alice
2009
|
|
|
81% |
Six Feet Under
2001-2005
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
American Experience
1988
|
|
|
93% |
Everwood
2002-2006
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
King of the Hill
1997-2010
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
MADtv
1995-2009
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996-2001
|
|
|
92% |
Oz
1997-2003
|
|
|
83% |
NYPD Blue
1993-2005
|
|
|
91% |
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993-1999
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
St. Elsewhere
1982-1988
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
All My Children
1970-2013
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992-1993
|
|
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Quotes from Kathy Bates' Characters
Maime Trotter: | You're part of me, no one can ever take that away. |
Maime Trotter: | I'm not going to add my name to the list of people who failed her. |
Maime Trotter: | You want to meet your new sister now don't 'chat? |
Maime Trotter: | You want to meet your new sister now don't 'cha? |
Lisa: | I thought scotch gave you headaches. |
Charles: | That's not what gave me headaches. |
Evelyn Couch: | I never get mad, Miss Threadgoode, never, the way I was raised, it was bad manners. Well, I got mad, and it felt great. I felt like could just beat the shit out of all those punks! Excuse my language. And then when I finish with all those punks, I'll take on all the wife beaters like Frank Bennett, machine gun their genitals, (imitates machine gun) eh-he-he-he-he-he! |
Evelyn Couch: | (laughs) |
Evelyn Couch: | Towanda will go on a rampage, I'll slip some tiny bombs into Penthouse and Playboys so they explode when you open them. I'll ban all fashion models who weigh under one-hundred-thirty pounds! And I'll give half the military budget to the people over sixty five and declare wrinkles sexually desirable. |
Ninny Threadgoode: | It's good to see that you're so happy, and you've slimmed down quite a bit these last few weeks. |
Evelyn Couch: | I'm just so happy, Big George and Idgie got off. I would've killed Frank Bennett if I coulda. Did anybody really think that Idgie murdered him? |
Ninny Threadgoode: | Some said yes, some said no. The only person who really knew the answer to that was Frank Bennett, and you know what they say, dead men tell no tales. |
Evelyn Couch: | I can't even look at my own vagina! |
Ninny Threadgoode: | Well, I can't help you on that one, honey. |
Ninny Threadgoode: | Idgie and her friend Ruth ran the Whistle Stop Café. Idgie was a character, all right. But how anybody could have thought she murdered that man is beyond me. |
Evelyn Couch: | I beg your pardon? |
Ninny Threadgoode: | Did you know they took my gallbladder out? |
Evelyn Couch: | Uh, no, I didn't. |
Ninny Threadgoode: | Oh yes, still in the hospital in a jar. I guess that's where they keep them. |
Evelyn Couch: | I guess. |
Ruth DeWitt Bukater: | Will these lifeboats be seated according to class? I hope they're not too crowded. |
Rose DeWitt Bukater: | Oh, mother, shut up! Don't you understand? The water is freezing and there aren't enough boats Not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are gonna die. |
Cal Hockley: | Not the better half. |
Molly Brown: | Come on, Ruth, get in the boat. First-class seats are right up here. |
Cal Hockley: | You know, it's a pity I didn't keep that drawing. It'll be worth a lot more by morning. |
Rose DeWitt Bukater: | You unimaginable bastard! |
Miss Sue: | You like Tennessee? That's a good school. Not at the academic level of Ole Miss but they have an outstandin' science department. You know what they're famous for? They work with the FBI, to study the effects soil on decomposin' body parts. When they find a body, the police wanna know how long it's been dead. So the fine works at Tennessee help them out. Oh, they have lots of body parts. Arms and legs and hands, from hospitals and medical schools. And do you know where they store 'em? Right underneath the football field. So while it's fine and dandy to have 10,000 fans cheerin' for you, the bodies you should be worried about are the ones right under the turf. Set to poke up through the ground and grab you... Well, it's your decision where you wanna play ball. Don't let me influence you. |
Annie Wilkes: | I thought you were good, Paul. But you're not good. You're just an old dirty birdy. |
Evelyn Couch: | (after candy has been thrown at her) I'm glad you're feelin' better, Aunt Vesta. Good thing your eyesight's failin'. |
Evelyn Couch: | I'm glad you're feelin' better, Aunt Vesta. Good thing your eyesight's failin'. |
Evelyn Couch: | I'm glad you're feelin' better, Aunt Vesta. Good thing your eyesights failin'. |
Nurse: | I'd thought you'd be happy for Miss. Threadgood. |
Evelyn Couch: | (Crying and very upset) Happy? Because she's dead? |
Evelyn Couch: | Happy? Because she's dead? |
Nurse: | No, that she gets to go home. She just left in a yellow cab. |
Evelyn Couch: | (Looking VERY confused) I don't understand... |
Evelyn Couch: | I don't understand... |
Nurse: | Well, there was really no point in her stayin' here now that Ms. Otis died... |
Evelyn Couch: | (Wide eyed) Ms. OTIS died? |
Evelyn Couch: | Ms. Otis died? |
Nurse: | Well, yes. |
Evelyn Couch: | Ms. Otis died! |
Evelyn Couch: | (hopping around laughing) |
Evelyn Couch: | Ms. Threadgoode, how about tellin' me some more, about Idgie? |
Ed Couch: | What the hell is this? |
Evelyn Couch: | That's a low cholesterol. Happy Valentine's. |
Ed Couch: | God! Are you tryin' to kill me? |
Evelyn Couch: | If I was gonna kill you, I'd use my hands. |
Evelyn Couch: | Did you hear that? |
Ed Couch: | What? |
Evelyn Couch: | The train. |
Ed Couch: | No, I didn't hear no train. |
Evelyn Couch: | Ah, nothin'. I guess. |
Bobby Boucher: | Mama, when did Ben Franklin invent electricity? |
Mama Boucher: | That's nonsense, I invented electricity. Ben Franklin is the Devil! |
Mama Boucher: | [to Bobby] You don't have what they call "the social skills." That's why you never have any friends, 'cept fo' yo' mama. |
Mama Boucher: | Bobby, deh ever catch dat gorilla that busted outa da zoo and punched you in da eye? |
Bobby Boucher: | No Mama, the search continues. |
Mama Boucher: | No son of mine is gonna play any foos-ball. |
Annie Wilkes: | He didn't get out of the COCKADOODIE CAR! |
Annie Wilkes: | He didn't get out of the COCKADOODIE CAR! |
Gert: | The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence. |
Mama Boucher: | Bobby Boucher, what did momma tell you about girls! |
Annie Wilkes: | i call it 'operation hobble' |
Annie Wilkes: | I call it 'operation hobble'. |
Annie Wilks: | The operation was called "hobbling". |
Annie Wilkes: | It's the swearing, Paul. It has no nobility. |
Paul Sheldon: | These are slum kids, I was a slum kid. Everybody talks like that. |
Annie Wilkes: | THEY DO NOT! At the feedstore do I say, "Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that F-in' pig feed, and a pound of that bitchly cow corn"? At the bank do I say, "Oh, Mrs. Malenger, here is one big bastard of a check, now give me some of your Christ-ing money!" THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO! |
Annie Wilkes: | THEY DO NOT! At the feedstore do I say, 'Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that F-in' pig feed, and a pound of that bitchly cow corn'? At the bank do I say, 'Oh, Mrs. Malenger, here is one big bastard of a check, now give me some of your Christ-ing money!' THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO! |
Dolores Claiborne: | Are you saying there's nobody? |
Selena St. George: | No, I'm saying there's a whole lot of nobodys! |
Gert: | Gertrude Stein: The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence. |
Annie Wilkes: | Oh, Paul. What a poet you are. |
Molly Brown: | You shine up like a new penny. |
Molly Brown: | Remember, they love money so pretend like you own a gold mine and you're in the club |
Molly Brown: | Remember, they love money so pretend like you own a gold mine and you're in the club. |
Molly Brown: | "She's a pistol Cal, hope you can handle her" |
Molly Brown: | She's a pistol Cal, hope you can handle her. |
Paul Sheldon: | Do you remember for all those years, nobody ever knew who Misery's real father was, or will they ever be reunited? It's all right here. Does she finally marry Ian, or will it be Winthorne? It's all right here. |
Annie Wilkes: | Paul you can't! |
Paul Sheldon: | Why not? I learn it from you. |
Klaatu: | "Your planet?" |
Klaatu: | Your planet? |
Regina Jackson: | Yes; this is our planet. |
Regina Jackson: | Yes, this is our planet. |
Klaatu: | No, it is not. |
Gert: | The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence. |
Annie Wilkes: | I'm your number one fan |
Waitress: | I just wanted to tell you I'm your number one fan. |
Evelyn Couch: | Towanda!, Righters of Wrongs, Queen Beyond Prepare. |
Evelyn Couch: | Towanda! Righter of Wrongs, Queen Beyond Compare! |
Ninny Threadgoode: | How many of some hormones you takin' honey. |
Ninny Threadgoode: | How many of them hormones you takin', honey? |
Evelyn Couch: | I can't even look at my own vagina. |
Evelyn Couch: | I can't even look at my own vagina! |
Ed Couch: | What the hell is this? |
Ed Couch: | What the hell's this? |
Evelyn Couch: | That's a low chosetral meal Happy Valentines?. |
Evelyn Couch: | That's a low cholesterol meal. Happy Valentine's. |
Ed Couch: | God?, are you tryin' to kill me?. |
Ed Couch: | God! Are you trying to kill me? |
Evelyn Couch: | If I was gonna kill you, I'd use my hands?. |
Evelyn Couch: | If I was gonna kill you, I'd use my hands. |
Evelyn Couch: | Hey!, I was waitin' for that spot. |
Girl #1: | Face it, lady, we're younger and faster. |
Girl #1: | What are you *doin'*. |
2nd Girl: | Are you *crazy*. |
Evelyn Couch: | Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance. |
Annie Wilkes: | Oh god i love you! |
Annie Wilkes: | Oh god I love you! |
Annie Wilkes: | [crazed] I don't want her dead! I want her! And you MURDERED her! |
Annie Wilkes: | I DON'T WANT HER SPIRIT! I WANT HER, AND YOU MURDERED HER! |
Paul Sheldon: | No! I didn't. |
Paul Sheldon: | No I didn't. |
Annie Wilkes: | Who did?! |
Annie Wilkes: | WHO DID? |
Paul Sheldon: | Annie, she died. She just slipped away. |
Paul Sheldon: | No one did! She just died! She... she... slipped away! |
Paul Sheldon: | Slipped away?! SLIPPED AWAY?! She didn't slip away, you did it! YOU did it! [gets metal stand] You murdered my Misery! [hits wall with stand] |
Paul Sheldon: | SLIPPED AWAY! SLIPPED AWAY? SHE DIDN'T JUST SLIP AWAY! YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT! YOU MURDERED MY MISERY! |
Annie Wilkes: | How could you?! She can't be dead...Misery Chastain cannot be dead! |
Annie Wilkes: | She can't be dead, MISERY CHASTAIN CANNOT BE DEAD! |
Annie Wilkes: | What do you think I say when I go to the feed store in town? "Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that effing pig feed, and ten pounds of that b*tchly cow corn!" A-and in the bank to I tell Mrs. Bollins, "Oh, here's one big b*stard of a check! Give me some of your Chr*sting money?!" |
Annie Wilkes: | What do you think I say when I go to the feed store in town? 'Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that effing pig feed, and ten pounds of that b*tchly cow corn!' A-and in the bank to I tell Mrs. Bollins, 'Oh, here's one big b*stard of a check! Give me some of your Chr*sting money?!' |
Molly Brown: | You shine up like a new penny! |
Gert: | "The artist's job is not to succumb to despair, but to find an antidote to the emptiness of existence." |
Gert: | The job of the artist is not to succumb to despair, but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence. |
Charlotte Cartwright: | My family has been known to prey on the weak. |
Charlotte Cartwright: | She's seen me through two divorces. |
Alice Pratt: | Three. |
Charlotte Cartwright: | Three? |
Alice Pratt: | Three. |
Charlotte Cartwright: | Oh right, I try to forget that one. |
Annie Wilkes: | He didn't get out of the cock-a-doodie car! |
Annie Wilkes: | And don't even think about anybody coming for you. Not the doctors, not your agent, not your family. 'Cause I never called them. Nobody knows you're here. And you better hope nothing happens to me. Because if I die... you die. |
Annie Wilkes: | And don't even think about anybody coming for you. Not the doctors, not your agent, not your family. Because I never called them. Nobody knows you're here. And you better hope nothing happens to me. Because if I die, you die. |
Annie Wilkes: | I thought you were good Paul, but you're not good. You're just another lying ol' dirty birdy. |
Annie Wilkes: | I am your number one fan. |
Evelyn Couch: | Face it girls, I'm older and I have more insurance. |