Hollywood Icon Kathy Bates Clears Up Retirement Speculation Amid “Matlock” Success
For decades, Kathy Bates has been a powerhouse in Hollywood, captivating audiences with iconic roles in Misery, Titanic, and more. Now in 2025, as she leads the reboot of CBS’s legal drama Matlock, fans are buzzing with one big question: Is Kathy Bates retiring?
During a recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 75-year-old Emmy and Oscar-winning actress addressed the rumors with five simple words:
“I’m not going to retire.”
Kathy Bates: Still Going Strong in 2025
Bates made it clear that she has no plans to step away from the screen anytime soon. When host Jennifer Hudson brought up the whispers of her retirement, Bates immediately dismissed them, crediting her decision to keep working to the sheer joy she feels on the set of Matlock.
“I’m having too much fun,” she smiled, referring to her dynamic with the cast and crew of the show.
From “Last Dance” to Full Steam Ahead
The retirement speculation began after a September 2024 interview with The New York Times, where Bates described her Matlock role as her “last dance.” The comment sparked debate about whether she was preparing for her final act in Hollywood.
However, Bates later clarified her statement at the 2024 Emmy Awards in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:
“What I meant was, I had one foot out the door until I read the script for Matlock. Then I said, ‘Okay, close the door. We’re gonna do some more.’ I want it to run for years. It’s that great.”
Her passion for the role and optimism about the show’s future prove she’s nowhere near done.
Praise From the Matlock Cast
Kathy Bates’ presence on Matlock has clearly left a mark on her co-stars. Actress Skye P. Marshall described Bates as someone deeply in tune with various communities and cultures, while David Del Rio simply dubbed her “the queen.”
The admiration Bates receives from her castmates reflects the warmth and respect she brings to every project.
A Class Act Off-Screen Too
Bates’ generosity doesn’t end when the cameras stop rolling. During the 2025 awards season, she and Shōgun actress Anna Sawai were nominated in the same category for Best Actress in a TV Drama.
Despite the competition, a true friendship blossomed between the two.
“Kathy and I met at the Emmys,” Sawai told People at a Vanity Fair event. “She sent me flowers when I won, and I sent her flowers when she won at the Critics’ Choice Awards. We started texting—I really feel like I can rely on her for advice.”
This touching story adds another layer to Kathy Bates’ already rich legacy—one not just of talent, but of genuine humanity.
So, Is Kathy Bates Retiring? Not a Chance.
Kathy Bates is still going strong, and fans can look forward to seeing more of her brilliance on-screen in 2025 and beyond. Whether she’s cracking legal cases on Matlock or forming friendships off-screen, Bates proves that passion and talent don’t have an expiration date.
Stay tuned for more updates on Kathy Bates’ career, Matlock Season 2 news, and exclusive Hollywood stories here.
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