Rhonda Bates is a former American actress. In 1978, she starred in the NBC miniseries Rollergirls. She played the recurring character Evelyn Thadburn on the first season of 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, and earned a master's degree in theater at the University of Arkansas. 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. 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 had a recurring role in the 1976–77 season of the Don Rickles sitcom CPO Sharkey, as the love-interest of 6'7" tall Seaman Pruitt, played by actor Peter Isacksen. She appeared in just one episode of Sharkeys second season, as her focus turned to a recurring role on Blansky's Beauties, where she played Arkansas, a gawky Vegas showgirl; the series was cancelled after 13 episodes. She also appeared on the 1977 sitcom Rollergirls, as roller derby queen Mongo Sue Lampert; the series was cancelled after four episodes. Bates also guest starred in a Love Boat episode where she played an ugly stepsister in a Cinderella storyline.
In 1979, Bates played Enid in Gabe Kaplan's college basketball comedy film Fast Break.
In 1980, Bates was in the film Roadie, co-starring rocker Meat Loaf and comedy legend Art Carney.
She later had a co-hosting role on Speak Up, America (a Real People'' – inspired TV magazine / reality show). One of her co-hosts was former-child-evangelist-turned-actor Marjoe Gortner.
Bates continued to work in a few TV guest shots up until 1988, then apparently quit acting around age 40.
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