Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1929 – February 23, 2019) was an American actress. Over an acting career spanning six decades, she was best 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 played Doris Sherman on Coach (1995–1997) and Lois Whelan (the mother of Debra Barone) on Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2004). She also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows.

Helmond had featured roles in a number of films including Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot (1976), Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits (1981) and Brazil (1985), and Garry Marshall's Overboard (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, to Irish Catholic parents Thelma Louise (née Walker) and Patrick Joseph Helmond, a laborer. Her name on her birth certificate was misspelled as "Catherine".Catherine Marie Helmond in the Texas, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1903-1932, ancestry.com. Accessed June 26, 2024. She had a younger sister, Jo Ann, born three years later, who died in infancy.Jo Ann Helmond in the Texas, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1903-1932, ancestry.com. Accessed June 26, 2024.

Helmond experienced economic hardship during her childhood: ‘we were very poor...from as early as I can remember I had to work to help support the family. I had to learn to stand on my own two feet’. She was raised by her mother and grandmother, both devout Catholics. Her father left the family and her mother eventually remarried in 1937, to Marshall Phillips.Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 for Thelma Helmond, ancestry.com. Accessed June 26, 2024. She attended a Catholic primary school and appeared in school plays.

Career After graduating from high school, she moved to Houston, Dallas and New York. She was not professionally trained, but learned her craft through experience: ‘My training was all practical and on the job'. She cleaned toilets and repaired costumes while acting in plays in New York. 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 uncredited television debut in 1962 on Car 54, Where Are You?, but did not begin to appear on television regularly until 1973. She also acted on stage, earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance on Broadway in Eugene O'Neill's The Great God Brown (1973). Her other appearances on Broadway included roles in Private Lives, Don Juan, and Mixed Emotions.

Helmond appeared in such feature films as Family Plot (1976), Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), in which she played the mother of Jonathan Pryce's character, and Overboard (1987). 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'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? She appeared in a 1993 episode of The Upper Hand, the British version of Who's the Boss? From 1995 to 1997, she starred in the ABC sitcom Coach 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'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. She was also the voice of Lizzie in the Cars film franchise (2006–2017).

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 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 awards for Who's the Boss? and Soap.

Personal life In 1959, Helmond married George N. Martin in New York; they divorced in 1962.

She met her second husband, David Richard Christian, in 1962, when he was 19. They married in 1969, in New York, after dating for seven years. 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. After Helmond died, her husband said: ‘She was the love of my life...We spent 57 beautiful, wonderful, loving years together, which I will treasure forever… The night she died, I saw that the moon was exactly half-full, just as I am now … half of what I’ve been my entire adult life.’

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

Selected filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes1971 Believe in Me Saleslady The Hospital Mrs. Marilyn Mead 1975 The Hindenburg Mrs. Mildred Breslau1976 Family Plot Mrs. Maloney 1981 Time Bandits Mrs. Ogre1985 Brazil Mrs. Ida Lowry Shadey Lady Constance Landau British film 1987 Overboard Edith Mintz 1988 Lady in White Amanda Harper Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress (1990) 1992 Inside Monkey Zetterland Honor Zetterland 1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel 2006 Cars Lizzie Voice role2011 Cars 2 2017 Cars 32018Frank & AvaBetty BurnsFinal film role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Car 54, Where Are You? Betty Lou Creco (uncredited) 1 episode 1972 Gunsmoke Ena Spratt in "The Judgment." 1973 The Bob Newhart Show Dr. A.J. Webster 1974 Mannix Mrs. Sylvia Jarrud/Martha Cole The Rookies Molly Phillips - Season 3, Episode 10 The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Lady at House TV film Larry Maureen Whitten1975 The Legend of Lizzie Borden Emma Borden The Six Million Dollar Man Middy Episode: "The White Lightning War" The Rookies Joyce Lanson Season 4 Episode 7 "The Death Lady" 1977–81 Soap Jessica Tate 85 episodesWon — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1980)Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1978–1981) 1979 $weepstake$ Sarah Episode: "Lynn and Grover and Joey" 1979–83 Benson Jessica Tate 2 episodesalso as director1982 Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story Frances Clooney TV film1983 Faerie Tale Theatre Jack's mother 1 episode 1984–92 Who's the Boss? Mona Robinson 196 episodesWon — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1989)Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1986)Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1988–1989) 1986 Girls on Top Mrs DuPont 1 episode "Mr Yummie Brownie" 1993 The Upper Hand Madame Alexandra 1 episode "Tunnel of Love" 1995–97 Coach Doris Sherman 11 episodes 1996–2004 Everybody Loves Raymond Lois Whelan 14 episodesNominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2002) 2002 Mr. St. Nick Queen Carlotta TV film 2007 A Grandpa for Christmas Roxanne "Roxie" Ritter2010 Pound Puppies Mildred 1 episode "My Fair Rebound" The Glades Evelyn 1 episode Melissa & Joey Mrs. Geller2011 True Blood Caroline Bellefleur Harry's Law Mrs. Gold 2012 Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales Lizzie (voice) Episode: "Time Travel Mater"

References

External links

Profile, genealogymagazine.com. Accessed June 26, 2024.