In a 2004 PEOPLE story, Cates shared that she had her stomach stapled in 1981 when she weighed 410 lbs. Although she dropped 100 lbs. thanks to the surgery, the weight came back plus some, causing her to tip the scales at 550 lbs. "That thing that made you fat in the first place?

How heavy was Gilbert Grapes' mom?

Cates had been bedridden and weighed 500 pounds when she was discovered and cast in the role as the Grape matriarch.

How much did Gilbert's mom weigh?

She weighed more than 500 pounds at the time. The film, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, won acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of a troubled but loving family in a small Iowa town.

Why did Darlene Cates weigh so much?

Each time he left, Darlene, who says she was ”pleasingly plump” as a teenager, took solace in food. Her overeating, compounded by a thyroid condition and slow metabolism, led to substantial weight gains.

What happened to the mom in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

NEW YORK (AP) — Darlene Cates, who played the housebound mother in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, has died. Cates died in her sleep Sunday morning at her home in Forney, Texas, according to her son-in-law, David Morgan. She was 69.

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What disorder is what's eating Gilbert Grape?

Arnie was the character with the most obvious mental health disorder. Mental retardation is defined as below-average intellectual functioning that greatly impairs a person's ability to communicate effectively and take care of themselves (Videbeck, p. 434).

What disability does Arnie Grape have?

After the bathtub incident, Arnie is afraid of any kind of body of water. He gets very upset and starts to hurt himself when he tries to wake his mother and she never wakes up. The diagnosis for Arnie Grape that fits most appropriately is Autistic Disorder (299.00).

How much did Bonnie Grape weigh?

She played bed-ridden Bonnie Grape in the '90s film and at the time weighed 575 pounds (261kg).

How much did the actress in Gilbert Grape weigh?

In a 2004 PEOPLE story, Cates shared that she had her stomach stapled in 1981 when she weighed 410 lbs. Although she dropped 100 lbs. thanks to the surgery, the weight came back plus some, causing her to tip the scales at 550 lbs.

What happened to Gilbert Grape's dad?

Gilbert never says that his father died 17 years ago. He said that his father was "hung out to dry 17 years ago", meaning he probably lost a business or a lot of money, and a few years later committed suicide, so he really is Ellen's father. Arnie is also pretty aware of his father's method of dying.

Who is the fat actress in Gilbert Grape?

Darlene Cates, who played the morbidly obese, housebound mother in the 1993 film “What's Eating Gilbert Grape,” died March 26 at her home in Forney, Tex.

What happened to Bonnie Grape?

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) [Bonnie Grape]: Dies of a heart attack (off-screen) after climbing the stairs and getting into bed; her body is shown afterwards when her son (Leonardo DiCaprio) discovers her, not initially understanding that she's dead.

How old was Johnny Depp in Gilbert Grape?

The actors were seen in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, which was released in 1993. It was shot in the very early career stages of the two actors, and it received global appreciation. At the time, Leonardo DiCaprio was just 19 years old, while Johnny Depp was in his early 30s.

Why did they burn the house in Gilbert Grape?

Wanting to keep her death from becoming a mockery, the family removes the furniture and belongings from the house, after which Gilbert lights a match to burn the house to the ground with her body still inside.

How old was Becky in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

While his life has seemingly stalled since high school, unlike his younger brother he doesn't outright suffer any condition that would diminish his mental capacity to that of a younger male. Enter manic pixie dream girl Becky, who is 15 but so hot every man in town wants her and every girl is threatened by her.

What ever happened to Gilbert Grape's cast?

How old was Betty in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

In the novel What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges, the main character, Gilbert Grape, has romantic relationships with two women, Mrs. Betty Carver and Becky. Mrs. Betty Carver, in her forties, is a married woman.

What's eating Gilbert Grape Bonnie?

Bonnie Grape is the mother of Gilbert, Amy, Ellen, and Arnie. After her husband committed suicide by hanging himself in the basement seven years ago, Bonnie developed severe depression. Her depression has resulted in her becoming morbidly obese and home-ridden.

Why is it called what's eating Gilbert Grape?

Johnny Depp's character, Gilbert Grape, endured many burdens of his family and took care of everyone at his own expense. The term "what's eating you" means, what is bothering you, upsetting you.

How old was Bonnie Grape when she died?

Darlene Cates, who starred as Bonnie Grape in 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape alongside Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio has died. Speaking to TMZ, her family revealed the movie star had passed away on Sunday morning as she slept, aged 69.

Is Gilbert Grape the oldest sibling?

The film is set in the fictional town of Endora, Iowa, and is about 25-year-old Gilbert Grape, the second oldest brother of the Grape family and the patriarch due to the absence of his father and eldest brother.

Where was Gilbert Grape filmed?

Set in the fictitious town of Endora, Iowa, the majority of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" was filmed in the Austin suburb of Manor, with a handful of scenes also shot in Georgetown, Pflugerville and Lockhart.

Is What's Eating Gilbert Grape based on a true story?

Neither the film nor the novel are based on real events or people. There is no real town of Endora, Iowa. In fact, Peter Hedges dedicated the novel to "my mother, who is not fat, and my father, who is not dead."

What does autism 299.00 mean?

Diagnostic Criteria 299.00 (F84.0)

Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.

What is Eating Gilbert Grape's autism portrayal?

His repetitive movements, echolalia, self injurious behaviours, use of atypical speech, preference for routine, his childlike nature, mind-blindness and lack of danger perception (he has a fondness for climbing the town water tower) all indicate that Arnie is on the spectrum.