Darlene Cates

Rotund character player, who made her feature acting debut as the 500 pound couch-bound mother of a dysfunctional family in Lasse Hallstrom's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993). Cates came to acting after screenwriter Peter Hedges (who also wrote the novel on which the film is based), saw her appearance on an episode of "Sally Jessy Raphael" on extremely overweight people. Cates brought a natural charm and warmth to the role that could have otherwise been merely grotesque. She received warm notices from critics and went on to make occasional guest appearances on TV in shows like "Picket Fences" and "Touched By an Angel."