Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates - Film Director, Family and Life

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Kathy Bates Biography Stories 

Kathy Bates's Personal Details

Kathy Bates is an Academy Award Winning American actress and director

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 28, 1948
NationalityAmerican
FamousHumanitarian, Southern Methodist University, Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses, Directors, Film Director
City/StateTennessee
SpousesTony Campisi (m. 1991–1997)
SiblingsMary Bates, Patricia Bates
Known asKathleen Doyle Bates
Universities
  • Southern Methodist University
  • White Station High School
  • Southern Methodist University
Notable Alumnis
  • Southern Methodist University
Birth Place Memphis
Height160
GenderFemale
FatherLangdon Doyle Bates
MotherBertye Kathleen
Net Worth$32 million as of Apr 2,2017
Sun SignCancer
Born inMemphis
Famous asActress and film director

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Kathy Bates's photo

Who is Kathy Bates?

Kathy Bates is one of the celebrated American actors of the film fraternity and theatre groups. Bates love for acting was discovered when she was in high school, participating in the school dramas. The feel-at-home feeling on-stage led her to think about the artistic genre seriously as she took up a course in drama and theatre in college. Very soon, she opted to be a part of the glitzy world professionally. Despite being sumptuously talented and skilled, Bates career took off with a slow start. In the beginning of her acting career, she took up minor roles in films and television series. She did not give up on her love for theatre and did a couple of shows. After about 20 years of being in the entertainment industry, Kathy Bates struck it big with the film, ‘Misery’ which opened the roads of success. She won an Academy Award for her outstanding performance. She followed this up with several successful and hit blockbusters such as ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’, ‘Dolores Caliborne’, ‘Titanic’, ‘Primary Colors’, ‘About Schmidt’, ‘P.S. I Love You’ and so on. She made guest appearances in several television miniseries. Furthermore, she has even donned the hat of a director for a couple of television shows.

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Childhood & Early Life

Kathy Bates was born as Kathleen Doyle ‘Kathy’ Bates to Bertye Kathleen and Langdon Doyle Bates. While her mother was a homemaker, her father was employed as a mechanical engineer. She was the youngest of the three daughters born to the couple.

She completed her formal education from White Station High School. It was while at school that she discovered her hidden talent and affinity for acting. With an aim to make a career out of her talent, she enrolled at the Southern Methodist University.

She graduated from the university in 1969 majoring in theatre and drama. At university, she was a prominent member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority

Career

Completing her education, she moved to New York to pursue a career in acting. Meanwhile, she took up odd jobs in the city to survive a living. From working as a singing waiter in a famous resort to working as a cashier at the New York’s museum, she did not shy away from menial works.

She first secured a role for herself opposite Christopher Walken at Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre in Lanford Wilson's world premiere of ‘Lemon Sky’. However, to her dismay, the show relocated to New York’s off-Broadway Playhouse Theatre without her.

Not the one to be disheartened quickly, she did not give up. By the mid-1970s, she gained a name for herself and a rising popularity among the New York’s regional theatre scene by some exceptional performance in shows like, ‘Casserole’ and ‘A Quality of Mercy’.

Meanwhile, she made a foray into the big screen with the film ‘Taking Off’. However, she was wrongly credited as Bobo Bates.

Continuing in theatre, it was her performance as Joanne in the theatre show, ‘Vanities’ that proclaimed her to fame. The show highlighted her acting prowess and immense talent as a performer.

She earned her first Broadway performance for the 1980’s show, ‘Goodbye Fidel’. Lasting only six performances, she followed this up by taking up a replacement role in the well-established and highly-successful drama, ‘Fifth of July’ in 1981.

She starred opposite Karen Black and Cher in the Robert Altman directed theatrical release, ‘Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean’. The success of the drama led to a release of a film version of the same in 1982. The film earned her, her first big screen success, as audience now recognized and noticed her.

In 1983, she starred in the Pulitzer-prize winning play, ‘Night, Mother’ opposite Anne Pitoniak. The show earned her, her first Tony Award. She followed this up by ‘Off Broadway’ and Terrence McNally's ‘Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune’, the latter of which ran for 533 performances.

In 1988, she succeeded Amy Irving in the off-Broadway production of ‘The Road to Mecca’. Despite having a super successful theatre career, the big screen fame eluded her. She failed to receive offers to portray her award-winning stage characters on the screen.

Eventually, in 1990, luck smiled on her and she bagged the role of an obsessed fan Annie Wilkes, who kidnaps her favorite author and subjects him to a series of horrific tortures, in the film, ‘Misery’. Her exceptional performance and panache for acting not only won her critical acclaim and popularity, but the prestigious academy Award as well.

Other films released for the year include, ‘Dick Tracy’, ‘Men Don’t Leave’, ‘White Palace’ and so on. She followed these up by the 1991 acclaimed movie, ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ in which she starred along with Jessica Tandy. In the film, she played the character of Evelyn Couch.

In 1992, she reprises her theatre role in the film version of the play, ‘The Road to Mecca’. Other films released during this time include, ‘Prelude to a Kiss’, ‘Used People’, ‘A Home of Our Own’, ‘North’, Curse of the Starving Class’ and so on.

In 1995, she played the titular character of Dolores Claiborne in the film-adaptation of the Stephen King novel, ‘Dolores Claiborne’. Her performance in the film was much appreciated.

While most of her films did well at the box office, the exceptional blockbuster performance seemed quite illusive. It was then that she played the character of Molly Brown in the James Cameron's flick, ‘Titanic’, which was based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic of 1912. The film broke all records, chronicling a humongous US$1.8 billion and more at the box office.

Taking the success story forward, she played the character of an acid-tongued political advisor Libby Holden in the film, ‘Primary Colors’. Adapted from a book in which political journalist Joe Klein gave an account of his experiences on the Presidential campaign trail, the film was a major success and earned her a nomination at the Academy Awards.

Towards the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000 decade, she came up with several films such as ‘The Waterboy’, ‘A Civil Action’, ‘Bruno’, ‘American Outlaws’, ‘Dragonfly’ and ‘Love Liza’. She even did several television films like, ‘Annie’ and ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ and short films like ‘Baby Steps’.

In 2002, she starred in the film, ‘About Schmidt’ for which she gained her third Academy Award nomination. In the film, she was cast opposite Jack Nicholas. Following this, she was a part of the star cast of a number of movies such as ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, ‘Unconditional Love’, ‘Failure to Launch, and ‘Relative Strangers’.

Meanwhile, she did several uncredited roles and played various characters in short films, documentaries, television films and miniseries and so on. She gave her voice to a couple of animation films like, ‘Bee Movie’, ‘Charlotte’s Web’, ‘The Golden Compass’ and ‘Christmas is Here Again’.

Other than acting, she diversified her established and highly successful career by wearing the cap of the director for several television series such as ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’, ‘NYPD Blue’, ‘Oz’, ‘Six Feet Under’, and ‘Everwood’. She even went on to direct television films like, ‘Dash and Lilly’ and ‘Ambulance Girl’.

From 2010 to 2011, she took up a recurring role in the popular comedy series, ‘The Office’. Subsequently, she starred in the legal drama, ‘Henry’s Law’ which lasted for two seasons. She played the character of writer Gertrude Stein in Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’.

In 2012, she made a guest appearance in the show, ‘Two and A Half Men’ on the episode ‘Why We Gave Up Women’ as the ghost of Charlie Harper. The role went on to earn her, her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, after nine nominations.

In 2013, she starred in the third season of the American Horror Story series' Coven as Delphine LaLaurie, an immortal racist.

Awards & Achievements

In her four and a half decades of career, she has won numerous prestigious awards in various categories. Some of the prominent awards won by her include, Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, American Comedy Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards and so on.

Other than acting and directing, she chairs the Executive Committee Chair of the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 2003, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which she successfully overcame. In 2012, she underwent double mastectomy to treat breast cancer which she was diagnosed with in July 2012.

Trivia

She is the first woman ever to win an Oscar for Best Actress in a Horror/Thriller for her role in the film ‘Misery’.

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Kathy Bates's awards

YearNameAward

Academy Awards(Oscars)

1991Best Actress in a Leading RoleMisery (1990)

Golden Globe Awards

1997Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionThe Late Shift (1996)
1991Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - DramaMisery (1990)

Primetime Emmy Awards

2014Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieAmerican Horror Story (2011)
2012Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesTwo and a Half Men (2003)

Kathy Bates biography timelines

  • // 28th Jun 1948
    Kathy Bates was born as Kathleen Doyle ‘Kathy’ Bates to Bertye Kathleen and Langdon Doyle Bates. While her mother was a homemaker, her father was employed as a mechanical engineer. She was the youngest of the three daughters born to the couple.
  • // 1969
    She graduated from the university in 1969 majoring in theatre and drama. At university, she was a prominent member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority
  • // 1970
    Not the one to be disheartened quickly, she did not give up. By the mid-1970s, she gained a name for herself and a rising popularity among the New York’s regional theatre scene by some exceptional performance in shows like, ‘Casserole’ and ‘A Quality of Mercy’.
  • // 1980 To 1981
    She earned her first Broadway performance for the 1980’s show, ‘Goodbye Fidel’. Lasting only six performances, she followed this up by taking up a replacement role in the well-established and highly-successful drama, ‘Fifth of July’ in 1981.
  • // 1982
    She starred opposite Karen Black and Cher in the Robert Altman directed theatrical release, ‘Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean’. The success of the drama led to a release of a film version of the same in 1982. The film earned her, her first big screen success, as audience now recognized and noticed her.
  • // 1983
    In 1983, she starred in the Pulitzer-prize winning play, ‘Night, Mother’ opposite Anne Pitoniak. The show earned her, her first Tony Award. She followed this up by ‘Off Broadway’ and Terrence McNally's ‘Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune’, the latter of which ran for 533 performances.
  • // 1988
    In 1988, she succeeded Amy Irving in the off-Broadway production of ‘The Road to Mecca’. Despite having a super successful theatre career, the big screen fame eluded her. She failed to receive offers to portray her award-winning stage characters on the screen.
  • // 1990
    Eventually, in 1990, luck smiled on her and she bagged the role of an obsessed fan Annie Wilkes, who kidnaps her favorite author and subjects him to a series of horrific tortures, in the film, ‘Misery’. Her exceptional performance and panache for acting not only won her critical acclaim and popularity, but the prestigious academy Award as well.
  • // 1990 To 2000
    Towards the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000 decade, she came up with several films such as ‘The Waterboy’, ‘A Civil Action’, ‘Bruno’, ‘American Outlaws’, ‘Dragonfly’ and ‘Love Liza’. She even did several television films like, ‘Annie’ and ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ and short films like ‘Baby Steps’.
  • // 1991
    Other films released for the year include, ‘Dick Tracy’, ‘Men Don’t Leave’, ‘White Palace’ and so on. She followed these up by the 1991 acclaimed movie, ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ in which she starred along with Jessica Tandy. In the film, she played the character of Evelyn Couch.
  • // 1992
    In 1992, she reprises her theatre role in the film version of the play, ‘The Road to Mecca’. Other films released during this time include, ‘Prelude to a Kiss’, ‘Used People’, ‘A Home of Our Own’, ‘North’, Curse of the Starving Class’ and so on.
  • // 1995
    In 1995, she played the titular character of Dolores Claiborne in the film-adaptation of the Stephen King novel, ‘Dolores Claiborne’. Her performance in the film was much appreciated.
  • // 2002
    In 2002, she starred in the film, ‘About Schmidt’ for which she gained her third Academy Award nomination. In the film, she was cast opposite Jack Nicholas. Following this, she was a part of the star cast of a number of movies such as ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, ‘Unconditional Love’, ‘Failure to Launch, and ‘Relative Strangers’.
  • // 2003
    In 2003, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which she successfully overcame. In 2012, she underwent double mastectomy to treat breast cancer which she was diagnosed with in July 2012.
  • // 2010 To 2011
    From 2010 to 2011, she took up a recurring role in the popular comedy series, ‘The Office’. Subsequently, she starred in the legal drama, ‘Henry’s Law’ which lasted for two seasons. She played the character of writer Gertrude Stein in Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’.
  • // 2012
    In 2012, she made a guest appearance in the show, ‘Two and A Half Men’ on the episode ‘Why We Gave Up Women’ as the ghost of Charlie Harper. The role went on to earn her, her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, after nine nominations.
  • // 2013
    In 2013, she starred in the third season of the American Horror Story series' Coven as Delphine LaLaurie, an immortal racist.

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Kathy Bates's FAQ

  • What is Kathy Bates birthday?

    Kathy Bates was born at 1948-06-28

  • Where is Kathy Bates's birth place?

    Kathy Bates was born in Memphis

  • What is Kathy Bates nationalities?

    Kathy Bates's nationalities is American

  • Who is Kathy Bates spouses?

    Kathy Bates's spouses is Tony Campisi (m. 1991–1997)

  • Who is Kathy Bates siblings?

    Kathy Bates's siblings is Mary Bates, Patricia Bates

  • What was Kathy Bates universities?

    Kathy Bates studied at Southern Methodist University, White Station High School, Southern Methodist University

  • What was Kathy Bates notable alumnis?

    Kathy Bates's notable alumnis is Southern Methodist University

  • How tall is Kathy Bates?

    Kathy Bates's height is 160

  • Who is Kathy Bates's father?

    Kathy Bates's father is Langdon Doyle Bates

  • Who is Kathy Bates's mother?

    Kathy Bates's mother is Bertye Kathleen

  • What is Kathy Bates's sun sign?

    Kathy Bates is Cancer

  • How famous is Kathy Bates?

    Kathy Bates is famouse as Actress and film director