Rhonda Bates
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Rhonda Bates | |
|---|---|
 Rhonda Bates 2014 | |
| Born | Rhonda Loge August 15, 1948 Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1975–1990 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Rhonda Bates (born 1949) is an American actress.
Bates was best known for playing geeky, man-hungry, hillbilly tomboys in TV shows and films of the 1970s. She was a gangly 6'2" tall with a wide toothy smile, curly hair and an unmistakable southern down-home drawl.
Early life
[edit]Bates grew up in Evansville, Indiana. She received her master's degree in drama from the University of Arkansas. She was a member of Chi Omega fraternity. She then taught health and physical education at Cynthia Heights Elementary School in Evansville before heading for California in 1975.
Career
[edit]Bates first received attention doing a standup comedy act at The Comedy Store. She was noticed by a producer who hired her for a Don Rickles TV special.
In 1975, Bates was hired as a featured player on the short-lived variety sketch show Keep on Truckin' featuring Didi Conn, Fred Travalena and Wayland Flowers.
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 (a 1977 spin-off of Happy Days) 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 episode where she played an ugly stepsister in a ‘Cinderella’ storyline.
In 1979, Rhonda Bates played “Enid” in Gabe Kaplan’s college basketball comedy film Fast Break.
In 1980, Bates was in the film Roadie (film), co-starring rocker Meat Loaf and comedy legend Art Carney.
She followed her various film & TV, game show, Battle of the Network Stars appearances with a co-hosting role on 1980s Speak Up, America (a Real People – inspired TV magazine / reality show). One of her co-hosts was former-child-evangelist-turned-actor Marjoe Gortner.
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.