Top 10 Kathy Bates movies and TV shows as the actress makes a comeback in CBS' Matlock reboot

Kathy Bates (Image Source - CBS)
Kathy Bates (Image Source - CBS)

Matlock Reboot will premiere on October 17 on CBS. In the new series, Kathy Bates plays the lead role of Matty, a widow with financial difficulties. She was also nominated for Oscars three times for movies like Primary Colors, Richard Jewell and About Schmidt.

Kathy Bates will be playing the role of Madeline Matlock, also known as Matty. In this new version, Matty is a widow who moves to New York City from the South and faces financial difficulties. After 30 years, she decides to return to law and secures a position at a prestigious law firm where she quickly proves her abilities.

Bates was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 28, 1948. She grew up with a love for acting and performing. Bates, a three-time Oscar-winning actress, studied theater at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She swung into the spotlight in 1990 for her role of Annie Wilkes in Misery. Since then, she has displayed her versatility, playing roles of a mom, a ghost, a tough CEO and so on.


Top 10 Movies and Shows Featuring Kathy Bates

1) Misery

1990 thriller is about an author, Paul Sheldon, held captive by his obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes (Image Source - Prime Video)
1990 thriller is about an author, Paul Sheldon, held captive by his obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes (Image Source - Prime Video)

In Misery, Bates played Annie Wilkes, an obsessive fan who kidnapped her favorite author and held him captive because she wanted him to rewrite his novel according to how she wanted it. This role won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, and the film is still considered one of the best thrillers of all time.


2) Fried Green Tomatoes

Fannie Flagg's novel, Fried Green Tomatoes (Image Source - Netflix)
Fannie Flagg's novel, Fried Green Tomatoes (Image Source - Netflix)

Based on the novel by Fannie Flagg about friendship, life struggles, and self-discovery, this comedy-drama tells the story of Evelyn Couch, played by Bates, a middle-aged woman who befriends an elderly lady who shares stories from her past.


3) A Home of Our Own

A home of our own (Image Source - Apple TV)
A home of our own (Image Source - Apple TV)

In this heartfelt drama, Bates portrays Frances Lacey, a single mother of six who moves to Idaho to build a better life for her family.

Despite facing many obstacles like her son getting caught for stealing changes from payphones to getting fired from her job, Frances’ determination helps her and her children build a home and form a close bond.


4) Primary Colors

youtube-cover

Set during a presidential campaign, this film features Bates as Libby Holden, a political aide with a sharp mind.

Her performance in this film has been deeply acknowledged and praised. She was nominated for Academy Award. The movie explores the challenges and ethical dilemmas in politics.


5) The Waterboy

youtube-cover

In this sports comedy, Bates plays Helen Boucher, who initially rejected the role after reading the first 12 pages of the story, but eventually it up.

She played the role of the overprotective mother of Bobby Boucher played by Adam Sandler, a socially awkward waterboy who ends up becoming a football star. Bates' comedic performance was widely appreciated.


6) Two and a Half Men

Two and a Half Men is an American sitcom (Image Source - Netflix)
Two and a Half Men is an American sitcom (Image Source - Netflix)

Bates appeared as a guest star in this popular sitcom and played the role of the ghost of Charlie Harper. Matlock Reboot isn’t her first film where she is playing the gender flipping role.

In Two and a Half Men, the role of Charlie Harper (ghost) was played by Charlie Sheen, who was fired from the sitcom. Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

Two and a Half Men is an American sitcom that aired from 2003 to 2015, created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn. The show follows Charlie Harper, a carefree jingle writer, his uptight brother Alan, and Alan's son Jake.

When Alan's marriage ends, he and Jake move into Charlie's beach house in Malibu, disrupting Charlie's bachelor lifestyle. Throughout the series, Charlie enjoys a wild lifestyle, while Alan struggles with his divorce and finances.


7) The Office

In this beloved mockumentary sitcom, Bates had a recurring role as Jo Bennett, the tough CEO of a company that buys out Dunder Mifflin. Her character added humor and tension to the series.

The Office is an American mockumentary sitcom that aired from 2005 to 2013. This series was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. In the show, one of the audience's favorite dialogue

Oh, stop asking yourself easy questions so you can look like a genius

8) Disjointed

The show has 20 episodes (Image Source - Netflix)
The show has 20 episodes (Image Source - Netflix)

Disjointed is an American sitcom created by David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre, starring Kathy Bates. The show has 20 episodes, with the first half released on Netflix on August 25, 2017, and the second half on January 12, 2018.

However, Netflix cancelled the show on February 14, 2018. In this Netflix sitcom, Bates plays Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, an advocate for legalized cannabis who runs a marijuana dispensary. The show blends comedy with serious themes, including PTSD and the medical benefits of cannabis.


9) Six Feet Under

youtube-cover

Six Feet Under is an American drama series created by Alan Ball that aired on HBO from June 3, 2001, to August 21, 2005. It has five seasons and 63 episodes.

The show follows the Fisher family, who run a funeral home in Los Angeles, exploring their lives, relationships, and struggles. Bates directed and guest-starred in several episodes of this critically acclaimed drama series, which focuses on a family that runs a funeral home.


10) American Horror Story

youtube-cover

American Horror Story is a famous American horror anthology TV series. This means that each season has a different story, characters, and setting, but they all take place in the same fictional universe.

The series was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the FX network. Every season has a beginning, middle, and end, and many of the stories are loosely inspired by real events.

Bates had multiple standout roles in the American Horror Story, with her most notable performance in Coven, for which she won an Emmy.

American Horror Story is the perfect stop for movie fanatics who love to keep themselves engaged in different stories.

comment icon
Comment
Edited by Mudeet Arora