Is Kathy Bates gay or straight? The truth behind her sexual orientation
Kathy Bates' portrayal of lesbian characters in Hollywood sitcoms has led to a lot of questions regarding her sexuality. She has also been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Is Kathy Bates gay or straight?
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Is Kathy Bates gay or straight?
- Who is Kathy Bates?
- Trivia
Key takeaways
- Kathy Bates is an American actress with an illustrious career that spans over five decades.
- She has bagged an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards in her career.
- Kathy often defends the rights of the LGBTQ+ community publicly and has portrayed gay characters.
Profile summary
| Full name | Kathleen Doyle Bates |
| Other names | Kathy Bates, Bobo |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 28 June 1948 |
| Age | 77 years (as of 2025) |
| Place of birth | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Current residence | Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
| Hair colour | Silver |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-spouse | Tony Campisi (1991-1997) |
| Father | Langdon Doyle Bates |
| Mother | Bertye Kathleen (née Talbert) |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Alma mater | White Station High School and Southern Methodist University |
| Profession | Actress |
Is Kathy Bates gay or straight?
Kathy Bates is straight, and there are no indications that she is a lesbian. Her relentless support for the LGBTQ+ community has resulted in people assuming she is gay. Kathy Bates' sexuality has been an area of interest to many of her fans.
Bates' advocacy for the community is to ensure all individuals are treated with dignity, acceptance, and equality. The American actress has played a lesbian in several movies and television series.
In the 1998 film Primary Colours, she portrayed the female character Libby Holden. She portrayed the homosexual character Lenore in the 2014 film Tammy.
Source: Original
Who is Kathy Bates?
Kathleen Doyle Bates is a renowned American actress. She is recognised for her roles in both comedic and dramatic films and television shows. As a result of her impressive work, she has received various accolades throughout her decorated acting career.
How old is Kathy Bates?
She was born on 28 June 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Her age is 77 years as of 2025, and her Zodiac sign is Cancer.
Who are Kathy Bates' parents?
Kathy Bates' mother is Bertye Kathleen (née Talbert), and her dad is Langdon Doyle Bates. Her father was an engineer, while her mother was a homemaker.
The American actress is the youngest of three daughters. Her sisters' names are Patricia and Mary Bates.
Source: Getty Images
Educational background
The respected American actress went to White Station High School and graduated in 1965. She proceeded to Southern Methodist University, where she studied theatre and graduated in 1969. Bates is also an alumna of the William Esper Studio for the performing arts in Manhattan.
Kathy Bates' movies and TV shows
Kathy started acting in 1969 and has remained active since then. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she has featured in several movies and television series.
Her performance in the 1990 horror film Misery marked her Hollywood breakthrough. There are numerous television shows and movies with Kathy Bates, and some of the most recent ones are listed in the table below.
| Title | Year | Role |
| Matlock | 2024-2025 | Madeline Matlock |
| A Family Affair | 2024 | Leila Ford |
| Summer Camp | 2024 | Ginny Moon |
| The Great Lillian Hall | 2024 | Edith Wilson |
| The Miracle Club | 2023 | Eileen Dunne |
| Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. | 2023 | Sylvia Simon |
| Home | 2020 | Bernadette Hacks |
| Richard Jewell | 2019 | Bobi Jewell |
| The Highwaymen | 2019 | Ma Ferguson |
| American Horror Story | 2013-2018 | Ms. Miriam Mead, Madame Delphine LaLaurie |
| The Big Bang Theory | 2018 | Mrs. Fowler |
| On the Basis of Sex | 2018 | Dorothy Kenyon |
| The Death & Life of John F. Donovan | 2018 | Barbara Haggermaker |
| Moose | 2018 | Owl |
| Disjointed | 2017-2018 | Ruth Whitefeather Feldman |
How many Stephen King movies was Kathy Bates in?
Kathy has appeared in two movies based on Stephen King novels. These are Misery in 1990 and Dolores Claiborne in 1995. The talented American actress also has an uncredited role in The Stand, a 1994 television miniseries adaptation of a book with the same title.
Kathy Bates' most iconic roles
The actress has landed many notable roles in her career. Some of the top ones are:
- Kathy Bates' Titanic role in 1997 as Molly Brown was iconic because Molly was a prominent survivor of the sinking.
- In Misery, Kathy Bates portrayed the character of Annie Wilkes, who was one of the two central characters and the main antagonist of the story.
- In Matlock, Kathy Bates played the role of Madeline Matlock, a retired lawyer and junior associate at Jacobson Moore. Madeline used her wily tactics to win cases and expose evils.
Source: Getty Images
What is Kathy Bates' net worth?
The American actress is estimated to be worth $20 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. Most of her wealth comes from her long-running career in the acting industry.
Is Kathy Bates married?
Kathy is not married as of July 2025. She was formerly married to Tony Campisi. Kathy Bates' ex-husband is an actor best known for Spider-Man 2, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Tony Campisi and Kathy Bates first met in 1977 and dated for 14 years before getting married. The two exchanged vows in 1991 and got divorced in 1997. Since the divorce, Kathy has remained tight-lipped about her love life.
Source: Getty Images
What is the sad news about Kathy Bates?
Kathy Bates has experienced health challenges over the years. In 2003, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At the start of 2019, she announced that she had been in cancer remission for over five years.
In September 2012, the American actress revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy. About two years later, she announced she had been diagnosed with lymphedema in both arms.
Kathy is active in E&RN’s National Lymphedema Awareness Campaign. The actress got a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2017.
Kathy Bates' weight loss
Between getting the Type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 2024, Kathy Bates lost about 100 pounds and said the weight loss gave her more energy and a better acting experience. The actress lost some of the weight after making lifestyle changes and an additional 20 lb on Ozempic. Talking about her weight loss, Bates said:
When I was so heavy in Harry's Law, I had to sit down in between every take, and it was awful. I'm ashamed to have put myself through that, to be honest.
She added:
But now that I've been able to get really healthy, I can move, I can breathe, I can have fun, I'm not sore. I get tired and realise I'm like an old lady, but even the kids get tired. But it's been a magnificent experience.
Source: Getty Images
Trivia
- Kathy Bates' paternal grandfather, Finis L. Bates, was a lawyer and author.
- Her great-great-grandfather served as President Andrew Jackson's doctor.
- Kathy was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at Southern Methodist University.
- As a teenager, the American actress wrote self-described sad songs. She struggled with depression.
- She is a nominee for the Triple Crown of Acting.
- Kathy was the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in a horror/thriller for her role in Misery.
Is Kathy Bates gay or straight? The American actress is straight and was previously married to actor Tony Campisi. Kathy passionately advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, and her portrayal of lesbian characters underlines her commitment to diversity and representation.
Tuko.co.ke recently published all known details about Morgan Wade's sexuality. The internet has been buzzing with speculation about Morgan Wade’s sexual orientation because of her tattoo collection and her muscular build.
Wade's long-standing friendship with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards has further fueled the speculations. The star has never been married, while Kyle has been married twice.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Vivian Mutsoli (Lifestyle writer) Vivian Mutsoli is an experienced writer with over four years on TUKO.co.ke. She has also worked on LEGIT.ng and written articles on various trending topics like celebrities, IT, academic institutions, and more. She is a holder of a Bachelor of Commerce (Procurement and Supply Chain Management) from the University of Nairobi class of 2020. In 2023, Vivian finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email address: vmelsamutsoli@gmail.com
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over 4 years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Tuko.co.ke in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, Cyprine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
