Kathy Bates is an American actress. Her notable film roles include Titanic, The Waterboy, Fred Claus, and Bad Santa 2. She has received Primetime Emmy Awards for her television roles, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Two and a Half Men and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for American Horror Story: Coven. Beyond acting, she has directed the film Ambulance Girl and produced the film The Great Lillian Hall. In 2024, she appeared in the film Summer Camp and the series Matlock.