About:
Rita Darlene Cates (née Guthrie; December 13, 1947 – March 26, 2017) was an American actress. She became known for her role in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, in which she played the title character's housebound mother.

• Known For
• 
  What's Eating Gilbert Grape
  as
  Bonnie Grape
• 
  Snow Moon: Cinderella Chronicles Saga
  as
  Queen Darla
• 
  Billboard
  as
  Penny
• 
  Wolf Girl
  as
  Athena the Fat Lady
• 
  Touched by an Angel
  as
  Claudia Bell (1 episode)