Rhonda Bates (born 1949) is a former American actress. In 1978, she starred in the NBC mini-series ''

Rollergirls ''Rollergirls'' is a 2006 A&E Network reality show examining the personalities, antics and motivations of the women involved with the Austin, Texas, Lonestar Rollergirls roller derby league. According to their website, the league was founded i ...

.'' She played Evelyn Thadburn on the NBC sitcom ''CPO Sharkey''. Standing 6 ft 2 in tall, she is well known for her height.

Early life and education

Bates grew up in Evansville, Indiana, graduating from Reitz High School in 1966. She studied health and physical education at the

University of Evansville The University of Evansville (UE) is a private university in Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1854 as Carnegie Hall of Moores Hill College, Moores Hill College. The university operates a satellite center, Harlaxton Manor, Harlaxton College ...

, and earned a master's degree in theater at the

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...

. She then taught health and physical education at Cynthia Heights Elementary School in Evansville before heading to California.

Career

Bates first received attention doing a standup comedy act at

The Comedy Store The Comedy Store is an American comedy club opened in April 1972. It is located in West Hollywood, California, at 8433 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip. An associated club is located in La Jolla, San Diego, California. History The Comedy ...

. She was noticed by a producer who hired her for a

Don Rickles Donald Jay Rickles (May 8, 1926 – April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was known primarily for his insult comedy. His film roles include ''Run Silent, Run Deep (film), Run Silent, Run Deep'' (1958), ''Enter Laughing ...

TV special. In 1975, Bates was hired as a featured player on the short-lived variety sketch show ''Keep on Truckin featuring

Didi Conn Edith "Didi" Conn (née Bernstein; born July 13, 1951) is an American actress. She is best known for her work as Frenchy in '' Grease'', Denise Stevens Downey in '' Benson'' and Stacy Jones in '' Shining Time Station''. Early life Edith Bernst ...

Fred Travalena Frederick Albert Travalena III (October 6, 1942 – June 28, 2009) was an American entertainer, specializing in comedy and impressions. Early life Bronx, New York-born and Long Island-raised, Travalena moved to Los Angeles and developed a ...

and

Wayland Flowers Wayland Parrott Flowers Jr. (November 26, 1939 – October 11, 1988) was an American actor, comedian and puppeteer. Flowers was best known for the comedy act he created with his puppet Madame. His performances as "Wayland Flowers and Madam ...

. Bates became a semi-regular on Rickles' sitcom '' CPO Sharkey'' (1976–78) as the love-interest of 6'7" tall Seaman Pruitt (played by actor Peter Isacksen). Bates went on to co-star on ''

Blansky's Beauties ''Blansky's Beauties'' is an American sitcom television series and ostensible spin-off of ''Happy Days'' that aired on ABC from February 12 to June 27, 1977. The main character of the series was introduced on an episode of ''Happy Days'', then ...

'' (a 1977 spin-off of ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'') where she played “Arkansas” a gawky Vegas showgirl. She also appeared on the short-lived sitcom '' The Roller Girls'' as roller derby queen “Mongo Sue Lampert”. Bates also guest starred in a ''

Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

'' episode where she played an ugly stepsister in a ‘Cinderella’ storyline. In 1979, Rhonda Bates played “Enid” in

Gabe Kaplan Gabriel Weston Kaplan (born March 31, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He played the title character in the 1970s sitcom '' Welcome Back, Kotter''. He later became a professional poker player and a commentat ...

’s college basketball comedy film ''Fast Break''. In 1980, Bates was in the film '' Roadie (film)'', co-starring rocker

Meat Loaf Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American singer and actor. He was known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. ...

and comedy legend

Art Carney Arthur William Matthew Carney (November 4, 1918 – November 9, 2003) was an American actor and comedian. A recipient of an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Award, and six Primetime Emmy Awards, he was best kn ...

. She followed her various film & TV, game show, ''

Battle of the Network Stars ''Battle of the Network Stars'' is a series of competitions in which television stars from ABC, CBS and NBC would compete in various sporting events. A total of 19 of these competitions were held between 1976 and 1988, all of which were aired ...

'' appearances with a co-hosting role on 1980s ''

Speak Up, America Speak or SPEAK may refer to: * Speech, the vocal form of human communication People * Speak (Hungarian rapper) (born 1976), known for his song and music video "Stop the War" * Speak! (born 1987), American rapper and songwriter * Geoffrey Low ...

'' (a ''

Real People Real People may refer to: * Human, a species ** People, or all humans as a whole * ''Real People'' (TV program), a 1970s television show that aired on NBC in the United States * ''Real People'' (album), a 1980 album by funk/disco group Chic ** " ...

'' – inspired TV magazine / reality show). One of her co-hosts was former-child-evangelist-turned-actor

Marjoe Gortner Hugh Marjoe Ross Gortner (born January 14, 1944) is an American former Evangelism, evangelist preacher and actor. He first gained public attention during the late 1940s when his parents arranged for him to be Ordination, ordained as a preacher a ...

. Rhonda Bates continued to work in a few TV guest shots up until 1988, then apparently quit acting around age 40. She now lives in Texas.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Rhonda American film actresses American television actresses Living people 1949 births University of Arkansas alumni 21st-century American women