American Actress. Cates will best remembered for playing Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio’s housebound and overweight mother in 1993’s 'What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.' She was offered a role in the film after casting directors saw her on television during a 1992 segment of 'Sally Jessy Raphael,' entitled "Too Heavy to Leave The House." Cates, who was close to 600 pounds at the time, accepted the role of Bonnie Grape, which garnered positive reviews from critics that led to other acting jobs on TV and film, such as 'Picket Fences', Touched by an Angel,' 'The Word,' 'Wolf Girl,' 'No Small Parts' and 'Mother' (2014). In 2012, she revealed she lost 250 pounds after years of health problems and spent nearly a year in the hospital. Cates, who is also set to star in the 2017 film 'Billboard,' died in her sleep of natural causes.
American Actress. Cates will best remembered for playing Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio’s housebound and overweight mother in 1993’s 'What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.' She was offered a role in the film after casting directors saw her on television during a 1992 segment of 'Sally Jessy Raphael,' entitled "Too Heavy to Leave The House." Cates, who was close to 600 pounds at the time, accepted the role of Bonnie Grape, which garnered positive reviews from critics that led to other acting jobs on TV and film, such as 'Picket Fences', Touched by an Angel,' 'The Word,' 'Wolf Girl,' 'No Small Parts' and 'Mother' (2014). In 2012, she revealed she lost 250 pounds after years of health problems and spent nearly a year in the hospital. Cates, who is also set to star in the 2017 film 'Billboard,' died in her sleep of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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