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Filmography
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Known For
Misery Annie Wilkes (1990) -
Dolores Claiborne Dolores Claiborne (1995) -
Titanic Molly Brown (1997) -
Known For
Primary Colors Libby Holden (1998) -
Actress
American Horror Story Madame Delphine LaLaurie (2013-2021) -
Richard Jewell Bobi Jewell (2019) -
The Highwaymen Ma Ferguson (2019) -
The Big Bang Theory Mrs. Fowler (2018) -
On the Basis of Sex Dorothy Kenyon (2018) -
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan Barbara Haggermaker (2018) -
Moose Owl (2018) -
Disjointed Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (2017-2018) -
Krystal Vera Greenwood (2017) -
Feud: Bette and Joan Joan Blondell (2017) -
![Bad Santa 2]( "Bad Santa 2")
Bad Santa 2 Sunny Soke (2016) -
![The Boss]( "The Boss")
The Boss Ida Marquette (2016) -
![Complete Unknown]( "Complete Unknown")
Complete Unknown Nina (2016) -
![The Great Gilly Hopkins]( "The Great Gilly Hopkins")
The Great Gilly Hopkins Maime Trotter (2015) -
![Mike & Molly]( "Mike & Molly")
Mike & Molly Kay McKinnon (2014-2015) -
![American Dad!]( "American Dad!")
American Dad! D.O. Rothy (2015) -
![Boychoir]( "Boychoir")
Boychoir Headmistress (2014) -
![When Marnie Was There]( "When Marnie Was There")
When Marnie Was There Mrs. Kadoya (2014) -
![Tammy]( "Tammy")
Tammy Lenore (2014) -
![Harry's Law]( "Harry's Law")
Harry's Law Harriet Korn (2011-2012) -
![Two and a Half Men]( "Two and a Half Men")
Two and a Half Men Charlie Harper (2012) -
![Cadaver]( "Cadaver")
Cadaver Beth (2012) -
![The Office]( "The Office")
The Office Jo Bennett (2010-2011) -
![Midnight in Paris]( "Midnight in Paris")
Midnight in Paris Gertrude Stein (2011) -
![You May Not Kiss the Bride]( "You May Not Kiss the Bride")
You May Not Kiss the Bride Bryan's Mother (2011) -
![A Little Bit of Heaven]( "A Little Bit of Heaven")
A Little Bit of Heaven Beverly Corbett (2011) -
![Valentine's Day]( "Valentine's Day")
Valentine's Day Susan (2010) -
![Alice]( "Alice")
Alice Queen of Hearts (2009) -
![The Blind Side]( "The Blind Side")
The Blind Side Miss Sue (2009) -
![Personal Effects]( "Personal Effects")
Personal Effects Gloria (2009) -
![Chéri]( "Chéri")
Chéri Madame Peloux (2009) -
![Revolutionary Road]( "Revolutionary Road")
Revolutionary Road Mrs. Givings (2008) -
![The Day the Earth Stood Still]( "The Day the Earth Stood Still")
The Day the Earth Stood Still Regina Jackson (2008) -
![The Family That Preys]( "The Family That Preys")
The Family That Preys Charlotte Cartwright (2008) -
![P.S. I Love You]( "P.S. I Love You")
P.S. I Love You Patricia (2007) -
![The Golden Compass]( "The Golden Compass")
The Golden Compass Hester (2007) -
![Fred Claus]( "Fred Claus")
Fred Claus Mother Claus (2007) -
![Bee Movie]( "Bee Movie")
Bee Movie Janet Benson (2007) -
![Christmas Is Here Again]( "Christmas Is Here Again")
Christmas Is Here Again Miss Dowdy (2007) -
![Guilty Hearts]( "Guilty Hearts")
Guilty Hearts The Judge (2006) -
Have Mercy (2006)
-
![Charlotte's Web]( "Charlotte's Web")
Charlotte's Web Bitsy the Cow (2006) -
![Bonneville]( "Bonneville")
Bonneville Margene Cunningham (2006) -
![Relative Strangers]( "Relative Strangers")
Relative Strangers Agnes Menure (2006) -
![Failure to Launch]( "Failure to Launch")
Failure to Launch Sue (2006) -
![Solace]( "Solace")
Solace Marrows Wife (2006) -
![Hansel and Gretel]( "Hansel and Gretel")
Hansel and Gretel Narrator (2005) -
![Rumor Has It...]( "Rumor Has It...")
Rumor Has It... Aunt Mitsy (2005) -
![Ambulance Girl]( "Ambulance Girl")
Ambulance Girl Jane Stern (2005) -
![Six Feet Under]( "Six Feet Under")
Six Feet Under Bettina (2003-2005) -
![Warm Springs]( "Warm Springs")
Warm Springs Helena Mahoney (2005) -
![The Bridge of San Luis Rey]( "The Bridge of San Luis Rey")
The Bridge of San Luis Rey The Marquesa (2004) -
![Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy]( "Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy")
Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy The Sea Hag (2004) -
![Little Black Book]( "Little Black Book")
Little Black Book Kippie Kann (2004) -
![Around the World in 80 Days]( "Around the World in 80 Days")
Around the World in 80 Days Queen Victoria (2004) -
![The Ingrate]( "The Ingrate")
The Ingrate The Judge (2004) -
![American Experience]( "American Experience")
American Experience Narrator (1993-2004) -
![Unconditional Love]( "Unconditional Love")
Unconditional Love Grace Beasley (2002) -
![About Schmidt]( "About Schmidt")
About Schmidt Roberta Hertzel (2002) -
![Dragonfly]( "Dragonfly")
Dragonfly Mrs. Belmont (2002) -
![My Sister's Keeper]( "My Sister's Keeper")
My Sister's Keeper Christine Chapman (2002) -
![Love Liza]( "Love Liza")
Love Liza Mary Ann Bankhead (2002) -
![King of the Hill]( "King of the Hill")
King of the Hill Patrol Officer Jane Cooper (2001) -
![American Outlaws]( "American Outlaws")
American Outlaws Ma James (2001) -
![Rat Race]( "Rat Race")
Rat Race The Squirrel Lady (2001) -
![Possessed]( "Possessed")
Possessed Student (2000) -
![MADtv]( "MADtv")
MADtv Stuart's Grandma (2000) -
![Bruno]( "Bruno")
Bruno Mother Superior (2000) -
![The Wonderful World of Disney]( "The Wonderful World of Disney")
The Wonderful World of Disney Miss Agatha Hannigan (1999) -
Baby Steps Mrs. Mellon (1999)
-
![3rd Rock from the Sun]( "3rd Rock from the Sun")
3rd Rock from the Sun Charlotte Everly (1999) -
![A Civil Action]( "A Civil Action")
A Civil Action Bankruptcy Judge (1998) -
![The Waterboy]( "The Waterboy")
The Waterboy Mama Boucher (1998) -
![The Effects of Magic]( "The Effects of Magic")
The Effects of Magic Raphaella, the Magic Bunny (1998) -
![Primary Colors]( "Primary Colors")
Primary Colors Libby Holden (1998) -
![Titanic]( "Titanic")
Titanic Molly Brown (1997) -
![Swept from the Sea]( "Swept from the Sea")
Swept from the Sea Miss Swaffer (1997) -
![Adventures from the Book of Virtues]( "Adventures from the Book of Virtues")
Adventures from the Book of Virtues The Girls' Mother (1997) -
![The War at Home]( "The War at Home")
The War at Home Maurine Collier (1996) -
![Diabolique]( "Diabolique")
Diabolique Det. Shirley Vogel (1996) -
![The Late Shift]( "The Late Shift")
The Late Shift Helen Kushnick (1996) -
![The West Side Waltz]( "The West Side Waltz")
The West Side Waltz Mr. Goo (1995) -
![Angus]( "Angus")
Angus Meg Bethune (1995) -
![Great Performances]( "Great Performances")
Great Performances (1995) -
![Dolores Claiborne]( "Dolores Claiborne")
Dolores Claiborne Dolores Claiborne (1995) -
![Curse of the Starving Class]( "Curse of the Starving Class")
Curse of the Starving Class Ella Tate (1994) -
![North]( "North")
North Alaskan Mom (1994) -
![The Stand]( "The Stand")
The Stand Rae Flowers (1994) -
![Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun]( "Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun")
Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun Lunar Mom (1993) -
![A Home of Our Own]( "A Home of Our Own")
A Home of Our Own Frances Lacey (1993) -
![Used People]( "Used People")
Used People Bibby Berman (1992) -
![Hostages]( "Hostages")
Hostages Peggy Say (1992) -
![Prelude to a Kiss]( "Prelude to a Kiss")
Prelude to a Kiss Leah Blier (1992) -
![Fried Green Tomatoes]( "Fried Green Tomatoes")
Fried Green Tomatoes Evelyn Couch (1991) -
![At Play in the Fields of the Lord]( "At Play in the Fields of the Lord")
At Play in the Fields of the Lord Hazel Quarrier (1991) -
![Shadows and Fog]( "Shadows and Fog")
Shadows and Fog Prostitute (1991) -
![The Road to Mecca]( "The Road to Mecca")
The Road to Mecca Elsa Barlow (1991) -
![Misery]( "Misery")
Misery Annie Wilkes (1990) -
![White Palace]( "White Palace")
White Palace Rosemary (1990) -
![Dick Tracy]( "Dick Tracy")
Dick Tracy Mrs. Green (1990) -
![Men Don't Leave]( "Men Don't Leave")
Men Don't Leave Lisa Coleman (1990) -
![No Place Like Home]( "No Place Like Home")
No Place Like Home Bonnie Cooper (1989) -
![L.A. Law]( "L.A. Law")
L.A. Law Charlotte Haley (1989) -
![High Stakes]( "High Stakes")
High Stakes Jill (1989) -
![Roe vs. Wade]( "Roe vs. Wade")
Roe vs. Wade Jessie (1989) -
![Signs of Life]( "Signs of Life")
Signs of Life Mary Beth Alder (1989) -
![China Beach]( "China Beach")
China Beach Jan (1989) -
![Arthur 2: On the Rocks]( "Arthur 2: On the Rocks")
Arthur 2: On the Rocks Mrs. Canby (1988) -
![My Best Friend Is a Vampire]( "My Best Friend Is a Vampire")
My Best Friend Is a Vampire Helen Blake (1987) -
![Summer Heat]( "Summer Heat")
Summer Heat Ruth (1987) -
![Murder Ordained]( "Murder Ordained")
Murder Ordained Bobbi Birk (1987) -
![St. Elsewhere]( "St. Elsewhere")
St. Elsewhere Polly Miller (1986-1987) -
![The Morning After]( "The Morning After")
The Morning After Woman on Mateo Street (1986) -
![Cagney & Lacey]( "Cagney & Lacey")
Cagney & Lacey Brenda Harris (1986) -
Johnny Bull Katherine Kovacs (1986)
-
![One Life to Live]( "One Life to Live")
One Life to Live Evelyn Maddox (1984) -
![Two of a Kind]( "Two of a Kind")
Two of a Kind Furniture Man's Wife (1983) -
![Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean]( "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean")
Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Stella Mae (1982) -
![The Doctors]( "The Doctors")
The Doctors Phyllis Gillette (1978) -
![Straight Time]( "Straight Time")
Straight Time Selma Darin (1978) -
![The Love Boat]( "The Love Boat")
The Love Boat Sally Allison (1978) -
Vanities (1977)
-
![Taking Off]( "Taking Off")
Taking Off Audition Singer (1971) -
Actress
![All My Children]( "All My Children")
All My Children Belle Bodelle (1984) (1970) -
Soundtrack
![Disjointed]( "Disjointed")
Disjointed (2017-2018) -
![American Horror Story]( "American Horror Story")
American Horror Story (2013) -
![Harry's Law]( "Harry's Law")
Harry's Law (2012) -
![A Little Bit of Heaven]( "A Little Bit of Heaven")
A Little Bit of Heaven (2011) -
![Relative Strangers]( "Relative Strangers")
Relative Strangers (2006) -
![Six Feet Under]( "Six Feet Under")
Six Feet Under (2005) -
![Unconditional Love]( "Unconditional Love")
Unconditional Love (2002) -
![The Wonderful World of Disney]( "The Wonderful World of Disney")
-
![The War at Home]( "The War at Home")
The War at Home (1996) -
Soundtrack
![Taking Off]( "Taking Off")
Taking Off (1971) -
DirectorHave Mercy (2006)
-
![Ambulance Girl]( "Ambulance Girl")
Ambulance Girl (2005) -
![Fargo]( "Fargo")
Fargo (2003) -
![Six Feet Under]( "Six Feet Under")
Six Feet Under (2001-2003) -
![Everwood]( "Everwood")
Everwood (2002) -
![Dash and Lilly]( "Dash and Lilly")
Dash and Lilly (1999) -
![Oz]( "Oz")
Oz (1998) -
![NYPD Blue]( "NYPD Blue")
NYPD Blue (1997) -
![Homicide: Life on the Street]( "Homicide: Life on the Street")
Homicide: Life on the Street (1996) -
Director
![Great Performances]( "Great Performances")
Great Performances (1995) -
Producer
![The Ingrate]( "The Ingrate")
The Ingrate (2004) -
Archive footage
![Entertainment Tonight]( "Entertainment Tonight")
Entertainment Tonight (2020) -
![Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind]( "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind")
-
![Extra with Billy Bush]( "Extra with Billy Bush")
Extra with Billy Bush (2015) -
![The Kim Davis Cell Block Tango]( "The Kim Davis Cell Block Tango")
-
![And the Oscar Goes To...]( "And the Oscar Goes To...")
And the Oscar Goes To... (2014) -
![Chelsea Lately]( "Chelsea Lately")
Chelsea Lately (2014) -
![Premio Donostia a Ian McKellen]( "Premio Donostia a Ian McKellen")
-
-
![Corazón de...]( "Corazón de...")
Corazón de... (2008) -
![Misery: Diagnosing Annie Wilkes]( "Misery: Diagnosing Annie Wilkes")
-
-
![Cinema mil]( "Cinema mil")
Cinema mil (2005) -
-
![Celebrity Naked Ambition]( "Celebrity Naked Ambition")
Celebrity Naked Ambition (2003) -
![Biography]( "Biography")
Biography (2000) -
Femmes Fatales: Sharon Stone (1998)
-
![Titanic Explorer]( "Titanic Explorer")
Titanic Explorer (1998) -
![Primer plano]( "Primer plano")
Primer plano (1996) -
Archive footage
![Oscar's Greatest Moments]( "Oscar's Greatest Moments")
Oscar's Greatest Moments (1992) -
![L.A. Law 100th Episode Celebration]( "L.A. Law 100th Episode Celebration")
All Filmography
Videos
Did You Know
Trivia
Warren Beatty originally offered her a small role in his film Reds (1981), however she was unable to obtain an international visa for her to film her role overseas. He kept contact with her and gave the role of a stenographer to Bates in his follow ...
Quotes
[on playing Terry Bradshaw's movie wife in Failure to Launch (2006)] When I was told Terry Bradshaw would be playing my husband, I was like "The star-quarterback Terry Bradshaw?".
Trademark
Often portrays kind-hearted or cold-hearted characters
Nickname
Bobo
Star Sign
Cancer
Personal Details
Born
Kathleen Doyle Bates
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Height:
5' 3" (1.6 m)User Polls
Which female gave the greatest performance in a Mike Nichols film?
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Recipients for 2016
Oscars: From 1990s Winners to 2020 Nominees
Oscars 2020 — Best Supporting Actress
PG rated Insults, R rated Intentions
When Evil is Relative
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