Kathy Bates

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Kathy Bates stands as one of the most decorated actresses of her generation, with a career defined by excellence across stage, film, and television. She is the only woman to win an Academy Award for a horror/thriller performance, a feat achieved with her chilling turn in Misery. Her ability to anchor both ensemble casts and solo dramas has made her a favorite among directors and audiences alike.Her four Oscar nominations and three wins place her among the elite in Hollywood history. Beyond the Oscars, her string of Emmy wins demonstrates her versatility in television, where she has delivered some of the most memorable villainous and heroic performances of the last two decades. The AFI Life Achievement Award (2024) and Kennedy Center Honors (2023) serve as testaments to her enduring impact on American culture.

AwardsKathy Bates has won numerous prestigious awards throughout her career, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for Misery, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. She has also won Screen Actors Guild Awards for Misery, About Schmidt, Titanic, and The Blind Side. Her honors extend to the Obie Award for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and various critics' choice awards.

Honours & Distinctions

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce·1998

Inducted with a star located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.

AFI Life Achievement Award

American Film Institute·2024

Lifetime achievement award recognizing her contributions to cinema.

Kennedy Center Honors

Kennedy Center·2023

Honored for her contributions to American culture through the performing arts.

Women's Image Network Award

Women's Image Network·2015

Awarded for her outstanding contributions to women in media.

Honorary Degree

Southern Methodist University·2010

Doctor of Fine Arts degree awarded for her achievements in the arts.

Honorary Degree

University of Memphis·2005

Doctor of Humane Letters degree awarded for her philanthropy and artistry.

Rankings & Lists

#12

Greatest Actresses of All Time

Empire Magazine·2020

#25

Top 100 Greatest Movie Stars

Vanity Fair·2019

Magazine Covers

TIME

May 1991

The New Face of Hollywood

Vogue

November 1997

Titanic Star

People

October 2013

AHS: Coven Special Issue

Variety

December 2023

Actress of the Year

Hollywood Reporter

January 2024

Power Women

Records & Feats

First Woman to Win Best Actress in a Horror/Thriller

Historic First·1991

First woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for a performance in a horror or thriller genre for Misery.

Most Oscar Nominations for a Character Actress

Career Milestone·2019

Holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a character actress in the supporting or leading category.

Longest Running Lead in Modern Legal Drama Reboot

Career Milestone·2024

Reprising the title role in Matlock after nearly 40 years since the original series finale.