Florence Bates: Movies & Box Office

Florence Bates, née Rabe, was an accomplished American film and stage character actress known for frequently playing grande dame characters in supporting roles. Born on April 15, 1888, in San Antonio, Texas, Bates graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in mathematics before starting her career as a teacher. Her first marriage in 1909 led to her stepping down from her career to raise their daughter. However, with the relationship ending in divorce, Bates found her way to law. At the age of 26, she became one of the first female lawyers in Texas. Bates shifted careers again when she left the legal profession to run her father's antique business with her sister. This business presented an opportunity for Bates to become a bilingual (English—Spanish) radio commentator, promoting good relations between the US and Mexico. The stock market crash and the death of her sister led Bates to marry a businessman, William F. Jacoby. They moved to Los Angeles and opened a bakery, which turned out to be a successful venture. Bates' acting career kickstarted in the mid-1930s. Introduced to Alfred Hitchcock in 1939, she earned her first major screen role in Rebecca (1940). Over the next 13 years, Bates appeared in over 60 films, including Kitty Foyle, Love Crazy, The Moon and Sixpence, Lullaby of Broadway, and Les Misérables. Even television wasn't untouched by her talent as she had regular roles on The Hank McCune Show and made appearances on I Love Lucy, My Little Margie, and Our Miss Brooks.