Forney resident Darlene Cates, who starred as Gilbert’s mom in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? died Sunday morning in her sleep, according to family. She was 69.
Darlene got the role of the obese mom in “Gilbert Grape” after “Grape” screenwriter Peter Hedges saw her on Sally Jessy Raphael. The episode was titled “Too Heavy to Leave Their House.” On the show, Darlene talked about obesity and the pelvic infection that caused her to gain 150 pounds, according to TMZ.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? became an instant classic.
According to the Internet Movie Database, Cates was born Dec. 13, 1947, in Borger and grew up in Dumas.
Cates also has made appearances on television episodes of Picket Fences in 1992 and Touched by an Angel in 1994, according to IMDb. She also played the supporting role of Athena the Fat Lady in the made-for-TV film Wolf Girl in 2001.
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