Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1929 – February 23, 2019) was an American film and television actress. Over her five decades of television acting, she was known for her starring role as ditzy matriarch Jessica Tate on the ABC prime time soap opera sitcom Soap (1977–1981) and her co-starring role as feisty mother Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss? (1984–1992). She also played Doris Sherman on Coach and Lois Whelan, the mother of Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond. She also appeared as a guest on talk and variety shows.[1]
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Helmond had supporting roles in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot (1976) and Terry Gilliam's Brazil (1985). She also voiced Lizzie in the three Cars films by Disney/Pixar.[2]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Wine of Morning | Irene | |
| 1971 | Believe in Me | Saleslady | [2] |
| The Hospital | Mrs. Marilyn Mead | [2] | |
| 1975 | The Hindenburg | Mrs. Mildred Breslau | [2] |
| 1976 | Family Plot | Mrs. Maloney | [2] |
| Baby Blue Marine | Mrs. Hudkins | ||
| 1981 | Time Bandits | Mrs. Ogre | [2] |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mrs. Ida Lowry | [2] |
| Shadey | Lady Constance Landau | British film[2] | |
| 1987 | Overboard | Edith Mintz | |
| 1988 | Lady in White | Amanda Harper | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress (1990)[2] |
| 1992 | Inside Monkey Zetterland | Honor Zetterland | [2] |
| 1993 | Amore! | Mildred Schwartz | |
| 1995 | The Flight of the Dove | Dr. Pamela Schilling | a.k.a. The Spy Within |
| 1998 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas | Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel | [2] |
| 2000 | The Perfect Nanny | Mrs. McBride | |
| 2002 | Black Hole | Martha Truesdale | |
| 2003 | Beethoven's 5th | Crazy Cora Wilkens | Direct-to-video film |
| 2006 | Cars | Lizzie | Voice[1] |
| 2007 | The Strand | Isabelle | Direct-to-video film |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | Lizzie | Voice[1] |
| Collaborator | Irene Longfellow | ||
| 2017 | Cars 3 | Lizzie | Voice[1] |
| 2018 | Frank & Ava | Betty Burns | Final film role |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Betty Lou Creco | 1 episode[2] Uncredited |
| 1972 | Gunsmoke | Ena Spratt | Season 18, Episode 4: "The Judgement" |
| The F.B.I. | Terry | Season 8, Episode 13: "The Jug-Marker" | |
| 1973 | Adam's Rib | Martha Layne | 1 episode |
| The Bob Newhart Show | Dr. Webster | 1 episode | |
| The ABC Afternoon Playbreak | Liz Cunningham | 1 episode | |
| 1974 | The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | Lady at House | TV film[2] |
| The Snoop Sisters | Cissy Prine | 1 episode | |
| Dr. Max | Libby Oppel | TV film | |
| Hec Ramsey | Emily | 1 episode | |
| Larry | Maureen Whitten | TV film | |
| Mannix | Sylvia Jarrud / Martha Cole | 2 episodes | |
| Locusts | Claire Fletcher | TV film | |
| Medical Center | Rachel | 1 episode | |
| 1974–75 | The Rookies | Joyce Lanson / Molly Phillips | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | The Legend of Lizzie Borden | Emma Borden | TV film[2] |
| The Family Nobody Wanted | Mrs. Bittner | TV film | |
| Cage Without a Key | Mrs. Little | TV film | |
| The First 36 Hours of Dr. Durant | Nurse Katherine Gunther | TV pilot | |
| Barnaby Jones | Edna Morrison | 1 episode | |
| Harry O | Anne Kershaw | 1 episode | |
| The Six Million Dollar Man | Middy | 1 episode | |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | Mrs. Stryker | 1 episode |
| James Dean | Claire Folger | TV film | |
| Petrocelli | Nancy Berwick | 1 episode | |
| Joe Forrester | 1 episode | ||
| Wanted: The Sundance Woman | Mattie Riley | TV film a.k.a. Mrs. Sundance Rides Again | |
| Visions | Aunt Sara | 1 episode | |
| Spencer's Pilots | Elly | 1 episode | |
| 1977 | Little Ladies of the Night | Miss Colby | TV film a.k.a. Diamond Alley |
| The Bionic Woman | Dr. Harkens | 2 episodes | |
| Meeting of Minds | Emily Dickinson | 2 episodes | |
| 1977–1979 | The Mike Douglas Show | Herself | 6 episodes |
| 1977–81 | Soap | Jessica Tate[2] | 85 episodes Won — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1980)[1] Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1978–1981) |
| 1978 | Getting Married | Vera Lesser | TV film |
| Pearl | Mrs. Sally Colton, Madam | TV miniseries | |
| 1979 | $weepstake$ | Lynn | 1 episode |
| Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | Elaine Thurston | TV film | |
| 1979–83 | Benson | Jessica Tate | 2 episodes also as director[2] |
| 1980 | Scout's Honor | Pearl Bartlett | TV film |
| 1981–86 | The Love Boat | Vivian / Harriet Darnell Stevens | 3 episodes |
| 1982 | World War III | Dorothy Longworth | TV miniseries |
| For Lovers Only | Bea Winchell | TV film | |
| Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story | Frances Clooney | TV film[2] | |
| 1983 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Jack's mother | 1 episode[2] |
| Fantasy Island | Laura Walters / George Walters | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | Not in Front of the Kids | Millie Rosen | TV film |
| 1984–92 | Who's the Boss? | Mona Robinson | 196 episodes Won — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1989)[1] 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) Nominated — TV Land Award for Favorite Mother-in-Law (2005) |
| 1985 | Comedy Factory | Mildred Deegan | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Charmed Lives | Mona Robinson | 1 episode |
| Girls on Top | Goldie DuPont | 1 episode | |
| Christmas Snow | Widow Mutterance | TV film | |
| 1986–1991 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Save the Dog! | TV film a.k.a. Go for Broke | |
| 1990 | When Will I Be Loved? | Barbara Patterson | TV film |
| 1991 | The Perfect Tribute | Farm Woman | TV film |
| Deception: A Mother's Secret | Geena Milner | TV film a.k.a. Tell Me No Lies | |
| 1992 | Grass Roots | Emma Carr | TV film |
| Batman: The Animated Series | Connie Stromwell | 1 episode Voice role | |
| 1993 | The Elvira Show | Aunt Minerva | Unaired pilot |
| The Upper Hand | Madame Alexandra | 1 episode | |
| 1995 | Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story | Hedda Hopper | TV film |
| 1995–97 | Coach | Doris Sherman | 19 episodes[2] |
| 1996–2004 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Lois Whelan | 14 episodes Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2002)[2][1] |
| 1997 | Ms. Scrooge | Maude Marley | TV film |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Dugong | 1 episode Voice role |
| Providence | Rose Bidwell | 2 episodes | |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine | Cicely Nordeco | 1 episode |
| How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale | Shatzie | TV film | |
| 2001 | Living in Fear | Mrs. Ford | TV film |
| 2002 | Mr. St. Nick | Queen Carlotta | TV film[2] |
| 2004–2005 | The Tony Danza Show | Herself / Mona Robinson | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | A Grandpa for Christmas | Roxie Famosa | TV film[2] |
| 2010 | The Glades | Evelyn | 1 episode[2] |
| Melissa & Joey | Mrs. Geller | 1 episode[2] | |
| 2011 | True Blood | Caroline Bellefleur | 1 episode[2] |
| Harry's Law | Mrs. Gold | 1 episode[2] | |
| 2012 | Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales | Lizzie | Episode: "Time Travel Mater" Voice |
Video games edit
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Cars | Lizzie |
| 2007 | Cars Mater-National Championship |