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 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.
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