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Kathryn Kates, the character actress who appeared in hit shows like Orange Is the New Black and Seinfeld, has died. She was 73.
According to her reps at Headline Talent Agency, Kates died of cancer on Saturday (per Deadline).
“Our mighty @officialkathrynkates has passed away. She will always be remembered and adored in our hearts as the powerful force of nature she was,” Headline Talent said in an Instagram post. “She loved this craft and had enough patience to fill 10 ships. A true icon. We miss you.”
A native New Yorker, Kates became known for her TV career spanning more than three decades. She played a counter clerk in the iconic NBC series Seinfeld, and later had recurring roles in three hit shows: Orange Is the New Black as Amy Kanter-Bloom, the mother of Jason Biggs’ character, Larry; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Marlene Simons; and Shades of Blue as Mrs. Saperstein, the mother of Detective David Saperstein (Santino Fontana).
The actress guest-starred in a number of TV series over the years, including Lizzie McGuire, Caroline in the City, Thunder Alley, Judging Amy, Matlock, and Rescue Me. A veteran theatre performer, Kates also appeared in over 20 off and off-off-Broadway productions. More recently, she played Angie DeCarlo in last year’s The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel film to HBO’s The Sopranos.
Kates is survive by her sister, Mallory, and her brother, Joshua, nephew Ben, and sister-in-laws Sue Ann and Gloria.
