Kathy Bates' Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Kathy Bateshas cemented herself as a screen legend.

The actress, who broke through with herOscar-winning performance in the 1990 filmMisery, has over 200 acting and directing credits to her name. Among the projects are timeless movies such asTitanicwithLeonardo DiCaprioandKate Winslet,The Blind SidewithSandra BullockandTim McGrawandThe WaterboywithAdam Sandler. Bates has also built an extensive résumé on stage and television, winning anEmmyforAmerican Horror Story: Covenand earning aTonynomination for’night, Mother.

Outside of acting, Bates hasopened up about her health issues, including two bouts of cancer and her chronic lymphatic disease, lymphedema.

01of 08Kathy Bates' Early YearsKathy Bates, Margie Impert and Andrea Howard in ‘Vanities’ (1977).G Stein /American Broadcasting Companies via GettyKathleen Doyle Bates was born on June 28, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the youngest of three daughters to homemaker Bertye and engineer Langdon Bates. After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a degree in theater in 1969, Bates left the South for New York City to pursue acting full-time. (She’s seen here in one of her earliest roles, in 1977’sVanitieson ABC.)

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Kathy Bates' Early Years

Kathy Bates, Margie Impert and Andrea Howard in ‘Vanities’ (1977).G Stein /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty

G Stein /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty

Kathleen Doyle Bates was born on June 28, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the youngest of three daughters to homemaker Bertye and engineer Langdon Bates. After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a degree in theater in 1969, Bates left the South for New York City to pursue acting full-time. (She’s seen here in one of her earliest roles, in 1977’sVanitieson ABC.)

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Kathy Bates' Broadway Beginnings

Kathy Bates in ‘night, Mother’.Courtesy Everett Collection/Richard Feldman

Courtesy Everett Collection/Richard Feldman

03of 08Kathy Bates Wins an Oscar for ‘Misery’Kathy Bates wins Best Actress for ‘Misery’ in March 1991.Vinnie Zuffante/GettyHer mainstream breakthrough — and legacy-making performance — arrived with a haunting performance as stalker superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 film adaptation ofStephen King’sMisery. At the 1991Academy Awards, she brought home the Best Actress statuette.“I would like to thankJimmy Caanand apologize publicly for the ankles. And I would like to say that I really am your number one fan,” she joked during her acceptance speech.Tearing up, she concluded, “I would like to thank my family, my friends, my mom at home and my dad, who I hope is watching somewhere.”In a 2021interview onThe Late Late Show, Bates said she has a “love-hate relationship” with Annie andMisery.“I don’t like being identified forever and ever as the woman who hobbled this poor man into bed, but it certainly was a movie that I truly enjoyed doing,” she said. “It had changed my life.”

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Kathy Bates Wins an Oscar for ‘Misery’

Kathy Bates wins Best Actress for ‘Misery’ in March 1991.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Her mainstream breakthrough — and legacy-making performance — arrived with a haunting performance as stalker superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 film adaptation ofStephen King’sMisery. At the 1991Academy Awards, she brought home the Best Actress statuette.

“I would like to thankJimmy Caanand apologize publicly for the ankles. And I would like to say that I really am your number one fan,” she joked during her acceptance speech.

Tearing up, she concluded, “I would like to thank my family, my friends, my mom at home and my dad, who I hope is watching somewhere.”

In a 2021interview onThe Late Late Show, Bates said she has a “love-hate relationship” with Annie andMisery.

“I don’t like being identified forever and ever as the woman who hobbled this poor man into bed, but it certainly was a movie that I truly enjoyed doing,” she said. “It had changed my life.”

04of 08Kathy Bates’ Marriage to Tony CampisiKathy Bates and Tony Campisi in March 1993.Vinnie Zuffante/GettyBates met fellow actor Tony Campisi at a play when their friends had set them up. They dated for 13 years before tying the knot in 1991.In a 1992 interview with theLos Angeles Times, Campisi explained that after marriage, there became a commitment to “try to be in the same city.”“We try to spend as much time together as possible. But you have to go where the work is. Of course, so many demands are made on her time — and that affects me,” Bates’ then-husband told the publication. “Since the [Academy] Award, everything’s been thrown into a new gear.”After nearly 20 years together, the couple divorced in 1997.

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Kathy Bates' Marriage to Tony Campisi

Kathy Bates and Tony Campisi in March 1993.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Bates met fellow actor Tony Campisi at a play when their friends had set them up. They dated for 13 years before tying the knot in 1991.

In a 1992 interview with theLos Angeles Times, Campisi explained that after marriage, there became a commitment to “try to be in the same city.”

“We try to spend as much time together as possible. But you have to go where the work is. Of course, so many demands are made on her time — and that affects me,” Bates’ then-husband told the publication. “Since the [Academy] Award, everything’s been thrown into a new gear.”

After nearly 20 years together, the couple divorced in 1997.

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Continued Success on Screen

(L-R) Kathy Bates in ‘Titanic’ (1997), ‘Annie’ (1999) and ‘The Blind Side’ (2009).20th Century Fox/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock; Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett; Ralph Nelson/Alcon Film Fund,LLC

20th Century Fox/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock; Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett; Ralph Nelson/Alcon Film Fund,LLC

06of 08Kathy Bates' Battle with Cancer and LymphedemaKathy Bates attends Stand Up to Cancer in September 2016.Kevin Mazur/American Broadcasting Companies Inc via GettyBates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003 and breast cancer in 2012. Her second diagnosis resulted in a double mastectomy, which then caused her to develop lymphedema after her lymph nodes were removed during surgery.She became a national spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network in 2014 to raise awareness and find treatments for the condition, which causes swelling from lymph fluid build-up.“I was bitter, I was depressed,” she toldSurvivorNetin a 2019 interview. “I thought my career was over, I thought, ‘There’s no way, I’m done, everything is done.' ”In a 2022 interview withNIH MedlinePlus Magazine, Bates revealed that after losing 80 pounds and undergoing treatment, her lymphedema is “under control.”And more recently, she has opened up about her health and body image sincelosing 100 poundsandnot having reconstructive surgery post-mastectomy.

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Kathy Bates' Battle with Cancer and Lymphedema

Kathy Bates attends Stand Up to Cancer in September 2016.Kevin Mazur/American Broadcasting Companies Inc via Getty

Kevin Mazur/American Broadcasting Companies Inc via Getty

Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003 and breast cancer in 2012. Her second diagnosis resulted in a double mastectomy, which then caused her to develop lymphedema after her lymph nodes were removed during surgery.

She became a national spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network in 2014 to raise awareness and find treatments for the condition, which causes swelling from lymph fluid build-up.

“I was bitter, I was depressed,” she toldSurvivorNetin a 2019 interview. “I thought my career was over, I thought, ‘There’s no way, I’m done, everything is done.' ”

In a 2022 interview withNIH MedlinePlus Magazine, Bates revealed that after losing 80 pounds and undergoing treatment, her lymphedema is “under control.”

And more recently, she has opened up about her health and body image sincelosing 100 poundsandnot having reconstructive surgery post-mastectomy.

07of 08Kathy Bates Wins 2 EmmysKathy Bates wins the Emmy for ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ in August 2014.Kevin Winter/GettyIn 2012, Bates won her first Emmy Award, taking home outstanding guest actress in a comedy series forTwo and a Half Men. Two years later, she won outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie as the serial killer and socialite Delphine LaLaurie inRyan Murphy’sAmerican Horror Story: Coven.“I was sure I wasn’t going to win,” she confessed in her acceptance speech, citing an encounter in the green room and her seat assignment.Bates has earned 14 Emmy nominations, adding two more to her tally forAmerican Horror Story: Freak ShowandHotelin 2015 and 2016.

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Kathy Bates Wins 2 Emmys

Kathy Bates wins the Emmy for ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ in August 2014.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

In 2012, Bates won her first Emmy Award, taking home outstanding guest actress in a comedy series forTwo and a Half Men. Two years later, she won outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie as the serial killer and socialite Delphine LaLaurie inRyan Murphy’sAmerican Horror Story: Coven.

“I was sure I wasn’t going to win,” she confessed in her acceptance speech, citing an encounter in the green room and her seat assignment.

Bates has earned 14 Emmy nominations, adding two more to her tally forAmerican Horror Story: Freak ShowandHotelin 2015 and 2016.

08of 08Kathy Bates’ Recent RolesKathy Bates in ‘Matlock’ (2024).Sonja Flemming/CBS via GettShe earned her fourth Oscar nomination with the 2019 biopicRichard Jewell, playing Jewell’s mother Barbara “Bobi.”After six years, Bates made her return to television to lead and executive produce the legal drama seriesMatlock. Although fans speculated that she would retire after the CBS show after she called it her“last dance,”she clarified to PEOPLE that she“would love for this to keep going.”“I often think if I didn’t do this as a living anymore, I’m sure I would face those days where I felt I haven’t paid my dues,” the actress said. “I can’t believe I’m 76, and I want the show to run for another five years. I’m going, ‘Holy crap! I’ll be 81.’ 76 and 81 seems 20 years apart to me.”

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Kathy Bates' Recent Roles

Kathy Bates in ‘Matlock’ (2024).Sonja Flemming/CBS via Gett

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Gett

She earned her fourth Oscar nomination with the 2019 biopicRichard Jewell, playing Jewell’s mother Barbara “Bobi.”

After six years, Bates made her return to television to lead and executive produce the legal drama seriesMatlock. Although fans speculated that she would retire after the CBS show after she called it her“last dance,”she clarified to PEOPLE that she“would love for this to keep going.”

“I often think if I didn’t do this as a living anymore, I’m sure I would face those days where I felt I haven’t paid my dues,” the actress said. “I can’t believe I’m 76, and I want the show to run for another five years. I’m going, ‘Holy crap! I’ll be 81.’ 76 and 81 seems 20 years apart to me.”

source: people.com