<P> Darlene Cates ( born Rita Darlene Guthrie ; December 13 , 1947 -- March 26 , 2017 ) was an American actress . She was best known for her role in the 1993 film What 's Eating Gilbert Grape , in which she played the title character 's housebound mother . </P>
who played the mom on what 's eating gilbert grape
Darlene Cates ( born Rita Darlene Guthrie