American actress Kathryn Kates, best known for her appearances on popular television shows like Seinfeld, Orange is the New Black and the Sopranos prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, passed away after a battle with lung cancer on Saturday. She was 73. Announcing the news of Kates' passing, Headline Talent Agency wrote on Instagram, "Our mighty @officialkathrynkates has passed away. She will always be remembered and adored in our hearts as the powerful force of nature she was. She loved this craft and had enough patience to fill 10 ships. A true icon. We will miss you."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shared post on

According to Kates' website, the actress began her career in 1974 after she moved from New York City to Los Angeles and founded the Colony Theatre Company along with actor John Larroquette and 20 other performers. She went on to produce, including performing in plays like The Grapes of Wrath and A Company of Wayward Saints. Kates later made a transition from stage to film and television and landed a recurring role as Mrs. Carrabino on the sitcom Lizzie McGuire and the comedy-drama Orange is the New Black as Jason Biggs’ mother Amy Kanter-Bloom. She gained popularity in the '90s appearing as the Counter Woman on the smash hit sitcom Seinfeld, alongside Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her most recent role was last year in the Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark in which she played Angie DeCarlo. Some other notable roles include Judge Marlene Simons on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Mrs. Saperstein on Shades of Blue.