Katherine Helmond dead: Soap and Who’s the Boss star dies aged 89

The agency APA confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. Katherine Helmond, whose career spanned over five decades, played matriarch Jessica Tate on soap spoof sitcom Soap. According to the publication, she died on February 23 following complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She is survived by her husband David Christian. Katherine won four Emmy nominations for her role in Soap and starred in the series from when it first aired in 1977 until it came to an end in 1981.

She was also known for playing Mona Robinson, in ABC’s Who’s the Boss?.

Between 1996 and 2004 she appeared in 14 episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, playing Debra Barone’s (played by Patricia Heaton) mother Lois Whelan.

The American star famously appeared in three of director Terry Gilliam’s movies, including playing a surgery enthusiast in Brazil and a hotel clerk in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Katherine’s illustrious acting career included stage roles in The Great God Brown and Private Lives.

In recent years, she also appeared in an episode of True Blood and voiced Lizzie in Cars 3.

Tributes have poured in for the late star following the news of her death, with Who’s the Boss star Alyssa Milano tweeting: “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!”

Everybody Loves Raymond favourite Patricia said: “Katherine Helmond was such a class act and incredibly down to earth.

“She was terrific as my mother on #EverybodyLovesRaymond and I looked up to her as a role model.”

Tony Danza, who also starred opposite Katherine on Who’s the Boss?, called Katherine his “soulmate” in an interview with Deadline today.

“I was in love with her,” he said. “She was such an influence on me.

“From being a single guy with a hit show in Hollywood, through my marriage and having kids — she was with me.”

The actor said he could go to Katherine with any problem, adding: “Very few people could match her.”

Actress Robin Strasser also praised Katherine’s work as “sharp and smart”, saying: “#Overboard as #GoldieHawn’s impossibly spoiled brat of a mother — who couldn’t help but love her?

“RIP may your costumes always glitter and the lighting always be good.”

Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for Katherine Helmond asking for comment.

source: express.co.uk