Actor Katherine Helmond who starred in the TV shows Who’s the Boss and Soap has died aged 89. The actor also had memorable roles in Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and a recurring role on the TV sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond. 

Her talent agency APA confirmed the news saying she died on February 23 following complications from Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Los Angeles.

In the 1970’s Helmond starred in Soap alongside Billy Crystal – playing on of the first gay characters on American TV. The show was a parody of the daytime soap operas that fill American TV schedules.

She is best known for playing grandmother Mona Robinson on Who’s the Boss. The show featured Tony Danza playing a housekeeper to business woman portrayed by Judith Light, both have children that they are raising as single parents.

Helmond also appeared in the TV series Coach, and played Debra Barone’s mother Lois WHelan in Everybody Loves Raymond. She made guest appearances in True Blood and The Glades.

The actor also had success on stage in 1973 she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Eugene O’Neill’s The Great God Brown, she received multiple Emmy Nominations for her part in Who’s the Boss?

OIP Staff