Premium Content:

'Orange is the New Black' star Kathryn Kates dead at 73

Actor Kathryn Kates, known for her myriad television roles including Orange is the New Black, has died at 73.

- Advertisement -

Kates passed away over the weekend in Florida after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The US actor had been working in television since 1982, landing stand-out roles in Seinfeld as the bakery worker in iconic episodes The Rye and The Dinner Party, Mrs Carrabino in Lizzie McGuire, Judge Marlene Simmons in Law & Order: SVU and Larry’s (Jason Biggs) mother in Orange is the New Black.

“Kathryn passed away peacefully this past Saturday surrounded by her brother Josh, his wife Sue Ann and her sister Mallory,” Kates’ agency Headline said in a media statement.

“She was incredibly brave, thoughtful, wise and loving. Kathryn approached every role she ever played, as well as her daily life with the greatest of passion.”

“We will do our best to honor her incredible legacy. The world truly lost one of the good ones.”


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

Latest

The Year in Review | September 2025

Some of the biggest news stories of 2025 occurred in September - see what went down.

Get into some of the best music of all time with ’27 Club’

Celebrate the artistry of Joplin, Winehouse, Cobain, Morrison and Hendrix.

On This Gay Day | Lili Ilse Elvenes was born in Denmark in 1882

Her life was the inspiration for the film 'The Danish Girl'.

Michelle Pearson’s ‘Skinny’ exposes the absurdity of diet culture

The award winning show is coming to Fringe World in 2026.

Newsletter

Don't miss

The Year in Review | September 2025

Some of the biggest news stories of 2025 occurred in September - see what went down.

Get into some of the best music of all time with ’27 Club’

Celebrate the artistry of Joplin, Winehouse, Cobain, Morrison and Hendrix.

On This Gay Day | Lili Ilse Elvenes was born in Denmark in 1882

Her life was the inspiration for the film 'The Danish Girl'.

Michelle Pearson’s ‘Skinny’ exposes the absurdity of diet culture

The award winning show is coming to Fringe World in 2026.

Shape shifting provocateur JXCKY on his ‘A Body for an Eye’ EP

The Melbourne based artist has a bold message about mental health in his latest music.

The Year in Review | September 2025

Some of the biggest news stories of 2025 occurred in September - see what went down.

Get into some of the best music of all time with ’27 Club’

Celebrate the artistry of Joplin, Winehouse, Cobain, Morrison and Hendrix.

On This Gay Day | Lili Ilse Elvenes was born in Denmark in 1882

Her life was the inspiration for the film 'The Danish Girl'.