Kathy Bates opened up about how her career was given a major boost thanks to Ryan Murphy, the creator of American Horror Story, during her appearance on Dinner’s On Me Podcast. She shared how Murphy played a pivotal role in rejuvenating her professional life, particularly after the cancellation of her 2012 show Harry’s Law.
The actress revealed that right before being cast in American Horror Story, she was going through a tough time—dealing with breast cancer, which ran in her family, and the unpleasant end of Harry’s Law. Bates described the experience as “degrading” and “humiliating,” explaining that she felt like she had let down her cast. She also expressed that the cancer treatment was more painful than expected and led her to believe her career might be over.
However, Ryan Murphy’s offer to join American Horror Story turned things around for her, and she credited the show with revitalizing her career. Bates mentioned that at the time, she was feeling like her professional future was uncertain, but Murphy’s opportunity gave her a new direction.
Now, as she stars in Matlock as Madeline Matlock, Bates couldn’t contain her excitement. She admitted that the experience has been “beyond her wildest dreams,” and despite advice from her PR team to downplay it, she couldn’t help but call it one of the best experiences of her career. Her reflection highlights the importance of unexpected opportunities and the resilience it took to overcome personal and professional challenges.