Darlene Cates returned to Forney, Texas, after Gilbert Grape, did a few TV episodes, and recently starred in a short film that’s awaiting release titled Mother. In 2012, she told the Dallas Morning News that she lost 240 pounds after four surgeries and three “near-death” experiences. She still wanted to make one or two more movies. [1] Television roles followed on the shows Picket Fences in 1994 and Touched by an Angel in 1996. 1966), and two sons, Mark (b. Darlene Cates was born December 13, 1947 in Borger, Texas, and grew up in Dumas, Texas. She starred as the mother of Gilbert Grape in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", a feature film of the 2005 Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival, wrote in a statement on his Facebook page. Darlene Cates: It's wonderful. Here, the actress Darlene Cates appears on the Sally Show, which later led to her starring in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.2015-01-06T19:52:07.000Z. Darlene Cates spent years being a lonely, depressed recluse. Darlene Cates, who played Leonardo DiCaprio‘s house-bound mother in the acclaimed 1993 film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, died on March 26. Mar 29, 2017 8:26am Cates was bed-ridden for two years. Up Next. “I’m not really the best in expressing my words in writing but you are the most special person I have ever [met],” DiCaprio wrote, notes People Magazine. Darlene Cates hopes to lose 100 more lbs., and is optimistic she will act again By Tim Nudd Updated August 09, 2012 08:55 AM The family moved around the country while Robert served in the Marines. Miles Dale flew a small crew and the film's stars from Romania to Texas to shoot their scenes with Cates. She realizes the severity of her situation but tries to ignore it, instead, placing most of her attention on her children. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was published in 1991 and became a film two years later. I would sit there with a handful of pills and not have the courage to take them and not have the courage to live either.”, Robert James Waller Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. They had their first child, Sheri Ann, when Cates was 18 years old. Biography of Darlene Cates (excerpt) Darlene Cates (born December 13, 1947) is an American actress who made her feature film debut in Lasse Hallström's What's Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, in which she played the title character's housebound mother. Shortly after, author and screenwriter Peter Hedges proposed to her that she play Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio's morbidly obese and housebound mother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)--Cates accepted. In the Sally Jessy Raphael segment, Cates said that she quickly gained weight after getting a pelvic infection. The film is about a radio station hosting a billboard-sitting contest. ", "Forney actress in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' sheds 240 pounds, looks to act again", "Forney resident Darlene Cates, the overweight mom in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darlene_Cates&oldid=977938357, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 September 2020, at 21:51. Although she did have a gastroplasty in 1981, she re-gained much of the weight she lost. By 2012, she was down to 331 pounds. No Small Parts episode #8: Darlene Cates A webseries dedicated to the lives and careers of character actors presents a heartfelt tribute to both Momma and Cates, who lives in Texas with her husband of 40+ years. In “Gilbert Grape,” Darlene played a grossly overweight shut-in who never bounced back from her husband’s suicide. “What you weigh may affect your life, it may affect your ability to get a job, your ability to attract a mate, but it doesn’t have anything to do with your value as a person, Cates told the Los Angeles Times in 1993. Video related to darlene cates dead: 5 fast facts you need to know. A clip taken from my extensive DVD collection of many British TV shows and news segments I have recorded with connections to BBWs and obesity. Darlene Cates was born on Borger, Texas, United States 13 Dec 1947 in and her current age 72 years 11 months 12 days . The lovable, impressionable and immeasurably talented Darlene Cates was born December 13, 1947 in Borger, Texas, to Dorothy Ann (née Pfrimmer) and Truman Madison Guthrie. Darlene Cates, the actress who played the housebound mother in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, has died. You triumphed in your role.”, Amy Krouse Rosenthal Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, DARLENE CATESDennis Borel (Executive Director) and Gary Guller (Team Everest '03 expedition) interview Darlene Cates. Cates is survived by her husband Robert and three children Sheri, Mark and Chris as well as four grandchildren. “There was nothing stereotyped in the real Darlene, because she was so sweet, she had such a wonderful self-irony and such a wonderful sense of humor–and you could tell from that brief interview on Sally Jessy Raphael. Cates' acting career ignited after she appeared on an episode of Sally Jessy Raphael (1983), titled... Born: December 13, 1947. Author and screenwriter Peter Hedges saw a tape of Cates on a 1992 episode of Sally entitled "Too Heavy to Leave Their House". In 2012, Cates had lost 240 pounds after a series of 2010 health issues kept her hospitalized for nearly a year, and she expressed a desire to resume her acting career. Robert Osborne Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Darlene Cates Overweight ActressDarlene Cates Overweight Actor2009-11-17T20:23:17.000Z. Darlene Cates Weight 90 KG and height 1.75 m. she is an Actress in United States. Cates’ daughter announced her death on Facebook earlier today, saying the actress went “peacefully in her sleep” on Sunday morning. Darlene Cates (born Rita Darlene Guthrie; December 13, 1947 – March 26, 2017) was an American actress. She leaves behind husband Robert Cates, a former US Marine and a daughter and two grown-up sons, as well as four grandchildren. Darlene Cates came onto the movie scene in an extreme and brave way, and it all happened due to a unique chain of events. Her primary Profession is an Actress. Cates played the housebound mother to Johnny Depp's Gilbert Grape in the 1993 film. In 1986, pelvic infections caused by her excess weight kept her bedridden for two years, during which she gained an additional 149 pounds. The Texas-native was 69 years old. Share. Cates’ family told TMZ that she died in her sleep on the morning of Sunday, March 25. She said she had acting opportunities come up before 2010. [5][6], "Darlene Cates Knows a Weighty Role When It's Offered", "Darlene Cates Loses 250 Lbs., Sets Sights on Acting Again", "Oscars flashback: whatever happened to Gilbert Grape's mama? [3], Cates married Robert Cates, a U.S. Marine, on January 11, 1963. 1971). The actress’ daughter, Sheri Ann Cates, announced in a Facebook post Monday that Cates died “peacefully in her sleep” March 26. Darlene Cates (1947–2017) Actress. Her husband, Bob, 56, has stuck by her for 31 years, and their three children - … Chuck Barris Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Darlene Cates on the Sally ShowA clip taken from my extensive DVD collection of many British TV shows and news segments I have recorded with connections to BBWs and obesity. Darlene Cates Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018. At 15, she married Robert Cates, then a Marine, and they had three children. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape actress Darlene Cates has passed away Our condolences go out to the family of Darlene Cates, who has died at the age of 69. She realizes the severity of her situation but tries to ignore it, instead, placing most of her attention on her children. Darlene Cates played Bonnie Grape, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio’s Arnie Grape in the film What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Tap to unmute. 2:05. She had one daughter, Sheri Ann (b. Darlene Cates, the actress best known for her role as Bonnie Grape in … In 2010, Cates suffered a series of medical setbacks and was in the hospital from December 2010 to November 2011. Her born home city of Borger, Texas, United States. I don’t have to delve very deep to find Mom in there,” she told the Morning News. Dennis Borel (Executive Director) and Gary Guller (Team Everest '03 expedition) interview Darlene Cates. [citation needed], Her performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, her first attempt at acting in any form, received critical acclaim and was lauded by her costars Leonardo DiCaprio[2] and Johnny Depp. [4], Cates died in her sleep at age 69 on March 26, 2017. Cates, who has been morbidly obese for several years, had been home-bound for five years when she agreed to appear on “The Sally Jessy Raphael Show” in 1992, for an episode titled “Too Heavy To Leave The House”. She made appearances in episodes of Picket Fences and Touched by an Angel in 1994 and 1996, respectively. Darlene Cates, the actress best known for her role as Bonnie Grape in … My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.”, VideoVideo related to darlene cates dead: 5 fast facts you need to know2017-03-28T11:26:59-04:00. Author and screenwriter Peter Hedges saw a tape of her on the segment of Sally Jessy Raphael (1983) entitled, "Too Heavy to Leave Their House." After the film’s release, DiCaprio famously wrote a letter about Cates’ acting, which was the first time she’d ever acted in a movie. Actress Darlene Cates (who plays Bonnie Grape) was discovered by author Peter Hedges on a talk show titled ‘Too Heavy to Leave Their House’. Her primary Profession is an Actress. She leaves behind her husband, Robert Cates, sons March and Chris, daughter Sheri Ann, and four grandchildren. Cates is survived by her husband Robert and three children Sheri, Mark and Chris as well as four grandchildren. Producer J. Darlene Cates, Actress: What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Here's a look at her life and career. “Her endearing personality and incredible talent will live on in the memories of those who knew her, and those who loved her work. Height & Body Measurements After her parents divorced when she was just 12 years old, … They had a daughter, Sheri Ann, and two sons, Mark and Chris. She had four grandchildren and lived in the Dallas suburbs. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Darlene Cates. No Small Parts episode #8: Darlene Cates A webseries dedicated to the lives and careers of character actors presents a heartfelt tribute to both Momma and Cates, who lives in Texas with her husband of 40+ years. She had a small role in the 2001 film Wolf Girl. Darlene Cates: It's so hard to do, but my life is so much better because I'm not always waiting for the insults. She married Robert Cates in 1963 and they raised three kids named Sheri Ann, Chris, and Mark Cates. Darlene Cates died of natural causes in 2017 aged 69 years. “(Now) I really feel like there’s not anything I couldn’t try. Cates had no acting experience when she appeared in Gilbert Grape, and she only received a handful of offers to appear in other projects after the film came out. “I wouldn’t leave the house except to go to the doctor. Cates was married to Robert Cates, a retired U.S. marine. Darlene Cates and Leonardo Dicaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape Credit: Rex I n 1996 she had a role in TV show Touched by an Angel, as a woman … His mother, Bonnie (Darlene Cates) is morbidly obese after years of depression following her husband's suicide. Her daughter Sheri Cates Morgan announced the sad news on Facebook. They were married until Cates’ death. In 2001, she appeared in a TV movie called Wolf Girl and made a short film called Mother in 2014. Cates was best known for her critically acclaimed role as Gilbert's mother Bonnie Grape in 1993 hit drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Shirley Darlene Cates, 70, of Beebe, Arkansas went to be with the Lord Saturday, January 4, 2020. The film follows 24-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store clerk caring for his morbidly obese mother (Cates) and his mentally impaired younger brother (DiCaprio) in a sleepy Iowa town. Actress Darlene Cates has died aged 69. “I can always tell when … [Gilbert Grape has] been on TV, because there’ll be a rush of ‘friend’ requests,” she told the Morning News. Darlene Cates Weight 90 KG and height 1.75 m. she is an Actress in United States. She met Bob when she was 14 and he was a 24-year-old Marine. A scrapbook photo from the 1993 movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape includes Darlene Cates with her movie "sons" played by Johnny Depp (lower right) and Leonardo DiCapro (second from right). Cates married US Marine Robert Cates in 1963. Gilbert Grape's Greatest Gift Momma Grape (Darlene Cates), suffers from depression after the suicide of her husband and struggles with severe obesity that causes a multitude of health problems. Here, the actress Darlene Cates appears on the Sally Show, which later led to her starring in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. According to the LA Times, Cates got an infection related to the Dalkon Shield, a contraceptive device that caused injuries to hundreds of people. It caused her to gain 150 pounds quickly. 1967) and Chris (b. Leo, 39, played her mentally challenged son and earned his first Oscar nomination. 1971). She got permission from her mother to marry Robert. “Darlene was the best acting mom I ever had the privilege of working alongside,” DiCaprio wrote in a statement on his Facebook page. Trailer. In 1992, she received her high school diploma via correspondence courses. She looked older, though — … At the time of her death, Cates lived in Forney, just outside Dallas. In 2012, she announced that she lost 240 pounds and had dreams of re-starting her acting career. She became known for her role in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, in which she played the title character's housebound mother. “It is with a bitter-sweet heart that we share that our precious wife, mother, and Gaga, Darlene Guthrie Cates, was called Home, somewhat unexpectedly, peacefully in her sleep Sunday morning,” Sheri Ann wrote. Darlene has 3 kids, a girl and two boys and 4 grandchildren. She was this wonderful personality in this disguise of her own body.”. When she recovered in 1985, she weighed too much to even stand. Boy, talk about being let out of a prison.”, George ‘The Animal’ Steele Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Darlene Cates Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by. She also leaves behind four grandchildren. She just finished working on Billboard, a movie written and directed by Zeke Zelker that stars Eric Roberts and Heather Matarazzo. Leonardo DiCaprio earned his first Oscar nomination for playing Arnie. The actress’ daughter, Sheri Ann Cates, announced in a Facebook post Monday that Cates died “peacefully in her sleep” March 26. She was born to Dorothy Ann and Truman Madison Guthrie. In the 1985 segment, she talked about her life, with daughter Sheri Ann by her side. Darlene Cates grew up in the Texas Panhandle town of Dumas, north of Amarillo. Her daughter, Sheri Cates Morgan, announced her passing on a Facebook post. On the program, Darlene shared how being overweight had impacted her life, including experiences of depression and suicidal ideation. They did not give any further details. When she filmed the segment, it was the first time Cates had been out of the house in five years. The Dallas Morning News reported that Cates’ top weight was 575 pounds. Darlene Cates Overweight Actress. They moved to Forney, Texas over 30 years ago. They married in 1963, when Cates was just 15 years old. Cates played the housebound mother to Johnny Depp's Gilbert Grape in the 1993 film. Peter Hedges, who wrote the novel and screenplay What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, discovered Cates after watching a 1992 episode of Sally Jessy Raphael. “It is with a bitter-sweet heart that we share that our precious wife, mother, and Gaga, Darlene Guthrie Cates, was called Home, somewhat unexpectedly, peacefully in her sleep Sunday morning,” Sheri Ann wrote. Lynne Murray: You've come a long way from being isolated. 1967) and Chris (b. Although she still could not walk, she hoped to get back into acting. She was spotted by Gilbert Grape director Peter Hedges while appearing on Sally Jessy Raphael. She retired from Campbells Soup and Timex. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Darlene Cates, the actress best known for her role as Bonnie Grape in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, died Sunday morning, her daughter Sheri Cates Morgan announced on … Writer Peter Hedges Discovered Her After Watching a 1992 Episode of ‘Sally Jessy … In 1992, she received her high school diploma via correspondence courses. On the show, she discussed her battle with obesity and how it had affected her life. She had four grandchildren and lived in the Dallas suburbs. Rita Darlene Guthrie was born in Borger, Tex., on Dec. 13, 1947, and she grew up in Dumas, Tex. Shopping. A 1987 New York Times report notes that over 200,000 American women testified that they were injured and sued A.H. Robins Company, the company that made it. Her born home city of Borger, Texas, United States. Darlene Cates, who played the house-bound mother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, has died at age 69. When she was 14 she met her future husband, lied to him about her age, marrying him a year later, when he was 25 and she was 15. Info. According to the Dallas Morning News, Cates and Robert met when she was only 14 years old. Darlene Cates, who starred as Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio‘s obese, housebound mother in 1993’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, died in her sleep on … She told him he was 18 and only revealed her true age after they married. In that same interview, she showed just how proud she was of Gilbert Grape. Gilbert Grape's Greatest Gift Momma Grape (Darlene Cates), suffers from depression after the suicide of her husband and struggles with severe obesity that causes a multitude of health problems. She began gaining more weight, as she sought comfort in food when he was away. Cates' acting career ignited after she appeared on an episode of Sally Jessy Raphael (1983), titled "Too Heavy to Leave Their House". 1966), and two sons, Mark (b. She grew up in Dumas. Watch later. When her parents divorced, she was 12 years old and she dealt with the stress by eating. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, it stars Johnny Depp as a grocery store clerk who has to care for his obese mother and his mentally disabled brother Arnie. Hedges offered her the role of a morbidly obese mother in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, which she accepted. Cates also embraced being typecast as a mom. On the show she spoke of her self-imposed imprisonment. She had one daughter, Sheri Ann (b. Darlene Cates hopes to lose 100 more lbs., and is optimistic she will act again By Tim Nudd Updated August 09, 2012 08:55 AM Is Gilbert Grape depressed? Cates married Robert Cates, a U.S. Marine, on January 11, 1963. “There was this immediate draw to her,” Hallstrom said of Cates in a 1993 Los Angeles Times profile of Cates. Cates battled obesity for most of her life, weighing over 500 pounds at one point. “I became very depressed,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 1993.