Kathy Bates Shares Her Plans For Retirement After ‘Matlock’ Reboot

After six decades in Hollywood, Kathy Bates is set to retire once she wraps up her role as Madeleine Matty Matlock in the TV series Matlock. She nearly quit Hollywood after an unpleasant experience on the set of an undisclosed movie; however, seeing Matlock’s script was convincing enough to have another go.

Referring to her tasking masculine role as Matty, the Oscar winner admitted she finally got a chance to use all of her talent and experience. She plans to leave the industry in grand style and deems Matlock a fitting way to bow out gracefully.

Kathy Bates is retiring after ‘Matlock’ reboot – then what?

Why did Kathy Bates delay her retirement?

Kathy went through the Matlock script and was immediately sold by her character’s responsibility of righting wrongs from years ago. The much-anticipated sequel follows an original from the ‘80s through the ‘90s, where the male lead, Andy Griffith, was a criminal defense attorney, Ben Matlock.

While Kathy looks forward to relaxing for the little time she has left, fans have been sharing their thoughts about her retirement and wishing her well. “She has worked so hard for many years and played many iconic roles. A deserved retirement, and I hope she enjoys it,” someone hoped. “Too bad, very talented actress, her acting is just delightful,” another added.

Kathy’s career run

Kathy started out in Hollywood in her twenties, but casting agents at the time said she was not attractive enough for the industry. She continued with her theater gigs until the ‘90s, when she made some of her most iconic movies and earned herself multiple awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

She achieved all of this while battling multiple health issues, including ovarian cancer and breast cancer, leading to a double mastectomy. The actress also suffered from lymphedema due to her surgeries, leading her to advocate for the condition as national spokesperson and chairperson for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network’s (LE&RN) honorary board. Fans look forward to what Kathy has to offer on Matlock, which will premiere later this month.