Orange is the New Black and Seinfeld star Kathryn Kates dies of cancer at 73
The theater world is in mourning on Tuesday, after learning that longtime actress Kathryn Kates died at the age of 73.
Representatives for the actress at Headline Talent Agency confirmed that she died of cancer in Florida last Saturday, via Deadline.
Although it is not known what type of cancer she suffered from, their statement indicates that she had overcome it in the past before the cancer returned last year.
RIP: The theater world is in mourning on Tuesday, with the news that longtime actress Kathryn Kates died at 73
“Kathryn has been our client for many years, and we have grown much closer to her over the past year since she knew her cancer was coming back,” the statement began.
“She was always incredibly brave and wise and approached each role with the utmost passion. She will be greatly missed,” they concluded.
Kates was born in New York City to Louis Kates and actress Madlyn Kates, who had a memorable line in Mel Brooks’ 1968 classic The Producers (“I’m not a lady, I’m a janitor”).
Client: “Kathryn has been our client for many years, and we have grown very close to her over the past year since she found out her cancer was coming back,” the statement began
Despite her New York roots, her career truly began in Los Angeles, where she was one of the 25 founding members of the Colony Theatre, alongside John Larroquette.
She produced all of the company’s plays in the first six years from 1975 to 1981 with Barbara Beckley.
She began venturing into television and film in the early 1980s with small roles in the TV movie Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice, Jinxed and The Taming of the Shrew.
Career: Despite her New York roots, her career began in earnest in Los Angeles, where she was one of the 25 founding members of the Colony Theatre, alongside John Larroquette.
Kates began starring in television shows in the early 1990s such as Matlock and Thunder Alley, as well as her memorable “counter-woman” role in two episodes of Seinfeld, where George (Jason Alexander) tries to get hold of a marble rye.
The actress has also appeared in the films The Nurse and Asylum, while guest starring in Lizzie McGuire, Judging Amy, Rescue Me, Pan Am and Small Miracles.
She also played Mrs. Saperstein in Shades of Blue and Amy Kanter-Bloom, Jason Biggs’ Larry’s mother in Orange Is the New Black.
Shades: She also played Mrs. Saperstein on Shades of Blue and Amy Kanter-Bloom, Jason Biggs’ Larry’s mother on Orange Is the New Black
She also starred in five episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Marlene Simmons and recently played Angie DeCarlo in The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark.
The actress moved to New York in 2006 and appeared in over 20 Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway productions while touring Europe.
She is survived by her sister Mallory and her brother Joshua.
Judge: She also starred in five episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Marlene Simmons and recently played Angie DeCarlo in The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark
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