Kathy Bates Claims Garry Marshall Rejected Her for Role Because Her Kissing a Man “Would Not Be Romantic”

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Kathy Bates asserts that Garry Marshall chose not to cast her in the 1991 film “Frankie and Johnny” due to her physical appearance.

The seasoned actress spoke candidly about the unfair treatment she experienced in Hollywood throughout her career due to her appearance during an interview with Vanity Fair. After gaining acclaim for her role in the 1990 film “Misery,” which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, Bates reflected on the years that followed as a barren wasteland, as she struggled to secure another notable project because she didn’t fit the typical mold of Hollywood stars.

Back then, Marshall – who passed away in 2016 – chose not to give me a role in his movie adaptation of “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” despite my having originated the stage part, as he found it difficult to imagine me portraying a romantic lead.

Bates stated that he didn’t believe people would accept him kissing someone on screen. In fact, for him, kissing a male character on screen wouldn’t be perceived as romantic.

The star of Matlock wasn’t taken aback by the news, as she casually commented, “I’ve always had that trait.” She also reminisced about an instance when she discovered her father had informed her acting mentor in Tennessee, “You know, she’s not traditionally beautiful.

In the end, Michelle Pfeiffer was selected to portray Frankie, alongside Al Pacino’s character Johnny, within Marshall’s movie adaptation of Terrence McNally’s play. The story revolves around Johnny, who finds employment in a café post his prison release, and as it unfolds, he grows affectionate towards the waitress named Frankie.

Despite Bates having encountered comments about her appearance in the past, they still don’t hurt any less. She also shared an incident from the 1991 press tour of the movie “At Play in the Fields of the Lord,” where a British journalist asked her co-star Aidan Quinn, who played her husband, “Being a leading man, do you find it believable that you and Kathy would be married?

After being deeply saddened, Bates retreated upstairs, secured the door, and wept profusely, as one might expect from a young kindergarten student. She later shared this experience.

The actress continued to showcase her skills in Hollywood, receiving three additional Oscar nominations. Yet, despite this, she often finds it challenging to accept compliments due to years of harsh remarks about her looks, such as when she was given a standing ovation at the Critics Choice Awards earlier this year for her performance in Matlock.

She mentioned it’s a confirmation of a career path that hasn’t consistently been at the top with the elite, like those jetting off to Ibiza and so forth. Instead, it’s had its twists and turns.

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2025-05-28 03:55