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Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1929 – February 23, 2019) was an American actress. Over her five decades of television acting, she was known for her starring role as Jessica Tate on the sitcom '' Soap'' (1977–1981) and her co-starring role as Mona Robinson on '' Who's the Boss?'' (1984–1992). Helmond also appeared in a 1993 episode of '' The Upper Hand'', the British version of ''Who's the Boss?''. She also played Doris Sherman on ''
Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...
'' and Lois Whelan (the mother of Debra Barone) on '' Everybody Loves Raymond''. She also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows. Helmond had minor or supporting roles in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's ''
Family Plot ''Family Plot'' is a 1976 American black comedy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in his final directing role. It was based on Victor Canning's 1972 novel ''The Rainbird Pattern'', which Ernest Lehman adapted for the screen. The film ...
'' (1976), Terry Gilliam's '' Time Bandits (1981)'' and ''
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
'' (1985), and Garry Marshall's ''
Overboard Overboard may refer to: * Man overboard, a situation where a person goes over the side of a ship or boat into the water, possibly needing rescue * ''Overboard'' (1987 film), a 1987 movie starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell * ''Overboard'' (2018 f ...
'' (1987). She also voiced Lizzie in the '' Cars'' film franchise by Disney/ Pixar between 2006 and 2017.


Early life

Helmond was born on July 5, 1929, in Galveston, Texas, the only child of Thelma (née Malone) and Joseph P. Helmond. She was raised by her mother and grandmother, both devout Catholics. She attended a Catholic primary school and appeared in school plays. For a semester, she attended Bob Jones University in
Greenville, South Carolina Greenville (; locally ) is a city in and the seat of Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 census, it is the sixth-largest city in the state. Greenville is located approximately halfway be ...
, and appeared in its film (Unusual Films Production) ''Wine of Morning''.


Career

After her stage debut in '' As You Like It'', Helmond began working in New York City in 1955. She later ran a summer theatre in the Catskills for three seasons and taught acting in university theatre programs. She made her television debut in 1962, but did not achieve a high profile until the 1970s. She also acted on stage, earning a Tony award nomination for her performance on Broadway in
Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Nobel Prize in Literature, literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama tech ...
's '' The Great God Brown'' (1973). Her other appearances in Broadway productions included roles in '' Private Lives'', ''
Don Juan Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni ( Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, ''El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...
'', and ''Mixed Emotions''. Helmond appeared in such feature films as ''Family Plot'' (1976), ''Time Bandits (1981)'', and ''Brazil'' (1985), in which she played the mother of Jonathan Pryce's character. In 1983, she studied at the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop. She picked up Emmy nominations for her role as Mona Robinson in ''Who's the Boss'' and as Lois Whelan in ''Everybody Loves Raymond''. She also received acclaim for her stage performance in
Eve Ensler V, formerly Eve Ensler (; born May 25, 1953), is an American playwright, performer, feminist, and activist. V is best known for her play ''The Vagina Monologues''.
's '' The Vagina Monologues''. Helmond appeared in '' The Legend of Lizzie Borden'' (1975) as Emma Borden, the title character's sister. She appeared in an episode of the short-lived 1976 CBS adventure series, '' Spencer's Pilots'', starring Gene Evans. Helmond gained prominence as Jessica Tate, the ditzy matriarch of the Tate family in '' Soap'' (1977–1981) on ABC. From 1984 to 1992, she played the role of Mona Robinson on the ABC sitcom ''Who's the Boss?''. From 1995 to 1997, she starred in the ABC sitcom ''
Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...
'' as Doris Sherman, eccentric owner of the fictional Orlando Breakers professional football team. From 1996 to 2004, she had a recurring role on ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' as Lois Whelan (
Ray Barone This is a list of fictional characters from ''Everybody Loves Raymond'', an American sitcom, originally broadcast on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. The show revolves around the life of Italian-American Ray Barone, a sportswrite ...
's mother-in-law). On July 25, 2010, she guest-starred on A&E Network's '' The Glades'' and as Caroline Bellefleur on HBO's '' True Blood''.


Award nominations

Helmond was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for Eugene O'Neill's ''The Great God Brown''. She was nominated for an
Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
for her role on ''Soap'' four times in a row (1978–1981) as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. In 1988 and 1989, she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on ''Who's the Boss?''. In 2002, she was nominated as Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in ''Everybody Loves Raymond''. She won two
Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
awards for ''Who's the Boss?'' and ''Soap''.


Personal life

In 1957, Helmond married George N. Martin. After their divorce in 1962, she married her second husband, David Christian; they remained married until her death, residing in Los Angeles, New York City, Long Island, and London. She and Christian had a history as students of Zen.


Death

Helmond died on February 23, 2019, from complications of Alzheimer's disease at her home in Los Angeles, aged 89. Her death was announced a week later.


Selected filmography


Film


Television


References


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Helmond, Katherine 1929 births 2019 deaths Age controversies 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Texas American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Bob Jones University alumni Deaths from dementia in California Deaths from Alzheimer's disease People from Galveston, Texas