Orange Is The New Black and Seinfeld actress Kathyn Kates has died aged 73 following a battle with cancer.
The actress’ representatives at Headline Talent Agency confirmed the ‘incredibly brave and wise’ star passed from cancer in Florida on Saturday, in a statement provided to Deadline.
It is unclear what type of cancer Kates suffered from – the statement indicates that she had previously beat the disease before the cancer returned this past year.
Tragic loss: Orange Is The New Black and Seinfeld actress Kathyn Kates (pictured as Counter woman in Seinfeld in 1994) has died aged 73 following a battle with cancer
The statement read: ‘Kathryn has been our client for many years, and we have grown much closer to her in this last year since she knew of her cancer returning.
‘She was always incredibly brave and wise and approached every role with the greatest of passion. She will be greatly missed,’ they concluded.
A post on Headline’s Instagram page also read: ‘Our mighty @officialkathrynkates has passed away.
‘She will always be remembered and adored in our hearts as the powerful force of nature she was. She loved this craft and had enough patience to fill 10 ships. A true icon. We will miss you.’
Career: She played Amy Kanter-Bloom, the mother of Jason Biggs’ Larry on Orange Is the New Black
Icon: Kathryn played the role in Seinfeld in 1994 episode The Dinner Party and 1996 episode The Rye
Kates was born in New York City to Louis Kates and actress Madlyn Kates, who had a memorable line in Mel Brooks’ 1968 classic The Producers (‘I’m not a madame, I’m a concierge’).
Despite her New York roots, her career began in earnest in Los Angeles, where she was one of the 25 founding members of The Colony Theater, alongside John Larroquette.
She produced all of the company’s plays in the first six years from 1975 to 1981 along with Barbara Beckley.
She started venturing into television and movies in the early 1980s with small roles in the TV movie Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice, Jinxed and The Taming of the Shrew.
Talented actress: The star is pictured in 2019’s Tarab as Dalayl
Kates started guest starring on TV shows in the early 1990s such as Matlock and Thunder Alley, along with her memorable role as a ‘counter woman’ in two episodes of Seinfeld, where George (Jason Alexander) is trying to procure a marble rye.
The actress also appeared in movies The Nurse and Asylum, while guest starring on Lizzie McGuire, Judging Amy, Rescue Me, Pan Am and Small Miracles.
She also played Mrs. Saperstein on Shades of Blue and Amy Kanter-Bloom, the mother of Jason Biggs’ Larry on Orange Is the New Black.
Shades: She also played Mrs. Saperstein on Shades of Blue (pictured)
She also guest starred in five episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Marlene Simmons and most recently played Angie DeCarlo on The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark.
The actress relocated back to New York City in 2006 and appeared in over 20 Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway productions while also touring Europe.
She is survived by her sister Mallory and brother Joshua.
Judge: She guest starred in five episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Marlene Simmons (pictured)
Force of nature: The star’s talent agency wrote a moving Instagram post
Much missed: A final post on her Instagram page paying tribute to the star showed Kathryn reading a sonnet with the caption taken from the song, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
A final post on her Instagram page paying tribute to the star showed Kathryn reading a sonnet with the caption taken from the song, Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye.
It read: ‘Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow.
‘I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush
‘Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die.
‘Keep me alive in your beautiful hearts with unforgettable memories. Teach others what you’ve learned from me and I will live in forever.’
Family: She is survived by her sister Mallory and brother Joshua
