Real-Life Love
Does ‘Matlock’s Kathy Bates Have a Husband? What We Know About Her Relationship History
Kathy Bates is in the spotlight more than ever these days thanks to her Emmy-nominated role on Matlock. For the most part, the actress keeps her personal life out of the public eye, leading to much speculation about her love life.
Bates is not known to currently be in a relationship. However, she was married in the past. Scroll down to learn more about her ex-husband and romantic history.
Who was Kathy Bates’ husband?
Bates was married to Tony Campisi from 1991 to 1997. The two had been together for 14 years when they finally tied the knot, having first met in 1977.
The pair’s marriage came following Bates’ Academy Award win for her role in Misery, which Campisi once told the Los Angeles Times “changed things” in their everyday lives. “Everything’s been thrown into a new gear,” he admitted, but noted, “Her feet are on the ground, her head is screwed on straight. Remember, this came after a lot of hard work.”
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Campisi is also an actor. While he’s mostly known for his work in the theater, he has some television and film credits, including a recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where he portrays Steve Roth. He also appeared in three episodes of Law & Order and an episode of Blue Bloods, among others.
Does Kathy Bates have children?
No, Bates never had any children. However, she has always had an extremely close relationship with her niece, Linda, whom she credited with convincing her to take her role in The Waterboy.
“My niece Linda, who’s worked with me since ’94, she came over and she saw this in the trash and she said, ‘What is this?’ I said, ‘Oh, it’s some football script. I don’t know what it is,’” Bates said on The Drew Barrymore Show. “And she pulled it out of the trash and she said, ‘Adam Sandler! You don’t know ‘The Chanukah Song?!’ I said, ‘No, I haven’t watched.’ She said, ‘You have to do this. You have to do this. And so I said yes. And I have to say, it’s one of my favorite all-time experiences.”
Who else has Kathy Bates dated?
Bates has not had any public relationships since her divorce from Campisi. If she has dated anyone, it was kept out of the public eye.
“Do you know how hard it was to get a date after Misery?” she joked while presenting an award at the 2024 Emmys.
While opening up about her cancer diagnosis in 2024, Bates touched on her relationship status. She discussed why she decided not to have reconstructive surgery after having a double mastectomy in 2012, telling the MeSsy podcast, “You know, I wasn’t in a relationship, I was older and I didn’t think I would be in a relationship, and it’s always kind of like, why do I have to?”
As for her character on Matlock, Bates revealed the actor she wants to play her love interest: Anthony Hopkins. “Why not?” she quipped to Entertainment Tonight.
77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Sunday, September 14, 8/7c, CBS
Matlock, Season 2, Sunday, October 12, 8:30/7:30c, CBS
