Cates was best known for her critically acclaimed role in Lasse Hallstrom's film about Gilbert, played by Johnny Depp, who after his father's death must care for his obese mother (Cates) and his mentally challenged brother (DiCaprio). In 2012, Cates had lost 240 pounds after a series of health issues in 2010 kept her hospitalized for nearly a year, and she expressed a desire to resume her acting career. Previous Article Updated On January 29, 2023 Updated On January 29, 2023 Updated On January 29, 2023 Cates will best remembered for playing Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio's housebound and overweight mother in 1993's 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape.' The . "(Dancing was something she talked about loving to do 'back in the day'!)". The actress played Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp's morbidly obese mother Bonnie in 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape ." In the movie, Bonnie hadn't left the house in years. And she has needed it. IE 11 is not supported. Today, though still extremely heavy at 5 ft.9 in. Cates' daughter, Sheri Cates Morgan, announced in a Facebook post that he Vanderpump Rules' Tom Says Hes Hated Amid Ariana Split, Raquel Affair, Is Nicki Minaj Shading Megan Thee Stallion? After a years courtship they married; he was 25, she 15. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2c23cc8b2d3b2f Darlene Cates (Bonnie Grape) After playing Gilbert and Arnie's mother in Gilbert Grape, Darlene landed roles on TV shows Picket Fences and Touched by an Angel and appeared in films Wolf Girl and . You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. "Darlene was the best acting mom I ever had the privilege of working alongside," DiCaprio wrote. Cates married Robert Cates, a U.S. Marine, on January 11, 1963. Darlene Cates, an actress who starred alongside Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," has died. 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 Sunday morning. Nothing is known about her death publicly except that she died in her sleep. Darlene Cates shed 250 pounds (113kg) following a series of near-death experiences. Deceased (1947-2017) . "Gilbert Grape" star Leonardo DiCaprio honored his on-screen mother in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon. Darlene Cates, who starred as Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprios obese, housebound mother in 1993s Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, died in her sleep on Sunday morning. I wanted someone to give me attention, she says. Cates starred as Depp's mother in the film What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Paramount, 1993). The Best Celebrity Bikini Moments of 2023 So Far, Pretty Young Thing! Cates landed the role after being spotted by the films screenwriter, Peter Hedges, while appearing on the Sally Jessy Raphael talk show, where she discussed her struggles with her weight. Stop putting things off until youre skinny! urges Darlene Cates with hard-won conviction. [3], Cates married Robert Cates, a U.S. Marine, on January 11, 1963. Writer Peter Hedges, who wrote the screenplay for the film based on his own novel, discovered Cates on an episode of the Sally Jessy Raphael talk show, in an episodetitled Too Heavy to Leave Their House. Welcome to the Coronation! Viewers responded with cards and gifts, and a month later she was invited back. She. Fellow 'Gilbert Grape' star Leonardo DiCaprio honored his on-screen mother in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon. She had one daughter, Sheri Ann, and two sons, Mark and Chris. Published: 02:22 GMT, 29 March 2017 | Updated: 15:30 GMT, 29 March 2017. The Hollywood star, who played Cates' son in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, described her as 'the best acting mom I ever had theprivilege of working alongside. Two years later she met Bob and lied to him about her age. Darlene Cates, known for playing the mother in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' has died. She was 69. According to the Dallas Morning News, Cates' struggle with weight began when she had her first child (of three) at age 18 and her husband, who was in the Marines, traveled overseas. Depp himself sounds smitten. Find out what Uber drivers really think of you! So far there is no official cause of death but most of Depp's friends and critics believe that his long-time addiction to terrible scripts like The Lone Ranger coupled with the pain of low Rotten Tomatoes scores such as Mortdecai's 12% . Her endearing personality and incredible talent will live on in the memories of those who knew her, and those who loved her work. Six years ago, weighing nearly 600 lbs. There was a sweetness to her.". Gilbert Grape was her breakout role, playing the morbidly obese, homebound mother of. Darlene Cates of 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' dead at 69 The actress also appeared on the TV series "Picket Fences" and "Touched by an Angel." By Annie Martin March 28 (UPI) -- What's. Reads in part, "Thank you for waking Gilbert up/ and thank you for opening me up./ You really are incredible -/ and most beautiful./ i love you doll -/ Johnny/ giLbert.". Darlene Cates, an actress well-known for her role as the housebound matriarch alongside Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1993 movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," died Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Forney, Texas. 64.111.109.93 Then, she says, she heard this voice pushing her. Cates passed away in her sleep Sunday. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Star Maddie Baillio Reveals 150-Lb. Oscar-winning actor pays tribute to endearing personality and incredible talent of Whats Eating Gilbert Grape co-star. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. "It is with a bitter-sweet heart that we share that our precious wife,. Cates, a famously amateur actress, was cast by director Lasse Hallstrom after he saw her plight - that of a woman weighing more than 400 lbs, who hadn't left her house in five years. She was 69. She turned to food for comfort, causing her weight to balloon out of control. 'Gilbert Grape' Star Dead At 69 How Leonardo & Johnny Broke Her Heart Darlene Cates was forgotten by costars who praised her! Experts weigh in as tremors hit Wales, Cornwall and the Are YOU eating the right colours? Hedges offered her the role of a morbidly obese mother in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, which she accepted. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. "She was almost a little girl trapped in this body. When the The Guardian released a statement on the actress's death, Leonard DiCaprio paid tribute to the actress identifying her as "the best acting mom I ever had". Born December 13, 1947 Died March 26, 2017 (69) Add to list The Best Celebrity Bikini Moments of 2023 So Far, Pretty Young Thing! Darlene Cates, best known for playing the housebound mother Bonnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, died in her sleep on Sunday, March 26. Death of Darlene Cates. In 2012, Cates gave an interview to theDallas Morning Newsin which she expressed her hopes of acting again after a series of weight loss procedures. The actress went on to appear in a handful of film and television projects before succumbing to natural causes, she was 69. Your IP: She was 69. [1] Television roles followed on the shows Picket Fences in 1994 and Touched by an Angel in 1996. The Oscar-winning actor worked with Cates on the 1993 film, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape. Darlene Cates, who starred as Bonnie Grape in 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," died in her sleep on Sunday morning, her family told TMZ. He loved her from the minute he saw her, says Hedges. See Photos of the Duggars Rocking Piercings: Ear, Nose, More, Lets Go to the Beach! Touching role: Cates was discovered on a talk show and invited to play the obese mother of mentally-challenged Arnie, played by DiCaprio, and Gilbert, played by Johnny Depp. 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Lyrics, 'Teen Mom' Alum Ryan Edwards Has a Long Criminal History: Timeline, Is Kim Zolciak-Biermann's Mansion in Foreclosure? Cates was cast in Whats Eating Gilbert Grape as morbidly obese mother, Bonnie, to Johnny Depps Gilbert. Cates died in her sleep at her home in Forney, Texas, on Sunday, her family confirmed. Weight Loss: 'I'm in a Healthy Relationship with My Body', Beverly Johnson on Having 'Full Blown Menopause' at 47: 'You're Moist in All the Wrong Places', Danny Pintauro of 'Who's the Boss?' Darlene Cates now weighs 500 pounds, and while she became a surrogate mom to Leo and Johnny during filming, both ignored her requests for a 20th anniversary reunion, said an insider. The drama, which starred a young Johnny Depp, notably earned DiCaprio his first Oscar nomination. Darlene Cates and Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of 1993 film Whats Eating Gilbert Grape. Cates went on to appear in several TV shows including Picket Fences in 1994 and Touched by an Angel in 1996. Manga Recommendations "The movie has always meant so much to her. TMZ reports that Cates died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday morning. What will the next pandemic be? 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DEPP OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT TO HEAVYWEIGHT GILBERT GRAPE MUM Johnny Depp has sent a heartfelt message of encouragement to his one-time movie mother as she battles morbid obesity.Depp insisted. The part earned DiCaprio his first Academy Award nomination in the best supporting actor category. Her breakout role in Hollywood was also her first when she was offered the role of a housebound mother in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." Though she has never acted before, Cates gives a touching performance as Depps housebound mother, a woman beached, in Gilberts words, like a whale, yet able to maintain her dignity. She was 69. She was ready for her return, though, and got a role in the 2014 short film Mother. I'm a vet, and here are five dog breeds most prone to cancer - including Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers. FORNEY, TX (CBS SF) - Best known for her role as the housebound mother to Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1993 movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape, actress Darlene Cates has died at the . Les meilleures offres pour DVD 1 disque - What's Eating Gilbert Grape (2001, cran large) avec insert chapitre sont sur eBay Comparez les prix et les spcificits des produits neufs et d'occasion Pleins d'articles en livraison gratuite! Sheri wrote. Cates grew up in the panhandle town of Dumas, Texas, the daughter of a homemaker and a gas-station attendant who divorced when she was 12. Cates died in her sleep Sunday morning at her home in Forney, Texas, according to. The actress told the paper she hoped to play roles similar to the one that she is remembered best for today. In a 2004 PEOPLE story, Cates shared that she had her stomach stapled in 1981 when she weighed 410 lbs.