‘Who’s the Boss?’ star Katherine Helmond dies at 89

Katherine Helmond. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/ Alan Light

March 1 (UPI) — Katherine Helmond, who played the sassy, no-nonsense matriarch on “Who’s the Boss?,” died at her home in Los Angeles, her talent agency announced Friday. She was 89.

APA said Helmond died Saturday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Perhaps best known for her role as Mona Robinson on the ABC sitcom opposite Tony Danza and Judith Light, Helmond got her start acting in the 1970s, with guest parts on series like “Gunsmoke,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and “The Bionic Woman.” Her film roles at the time included “Family Plot” and “Baby Blue Marine.”

Her first big role came in 1977 as Jessica Tate in “Soap,” a night-time parody of typical melodramatic soap operas. Helmond’s starring role in the series was opposite the likes of Robert Mandan, Cathryn Damon, Billy Crystal, Robert Guillaume and Robert Urich.

She would later go on to appear in episodes of “Benson” and “Love Boat” before her role in “Who’s the Boss?,” which first aired in 1984. She earned two best supporting actress Emmy nominations for the role.

Alyssa Milano, who played Helmond’s granddaughter in the series, celebrated the actor’s life by posting clips on Twitter.

“My beautiful, kind, funny, gracious, compassionate, rock. You were an instrumental part of my life. You taught me to hold my head above the marsh! You taught me to do anything for a laugh! What an example you were! Rest In Peace, Katherine,” she wrote.

Danza called Helmond a “national treasure” on Twitter.

Helmond had a number of recurring roles on sitcoms in the 1990s and 2000s, including “Coach,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Providence.” Later film roles included “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Beethoven’s 5th” and voice roles on the “Cars” animated series.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here