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.
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.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1955 Wine of Morning Irene1971 Believe in Me Saleslady The Hospital Mrs. Marilyn Mead 1975 The Hindenburg Mrs. Mildred Breslau1976 Family Plot Mrs. Maloney Baby Blue Marine Mrs. Hudkins 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 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 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 2007 The Strand Isabelle Direct-to-video film2011 Cars 2 Lizzie Voice Collaborator Irene Longfellow 2017 Cars 3 Lizzie Voice 2018 Frank & Ava Betty Burns Final film role
Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Car 54, Where Are You? Betty Lou Creco 1 episode; Uncredited1972 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 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak Liz Cunningham1974 The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Lady at House TV film 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 episodes1975 The Legend of Lizzie Borden Emma Borden TV film The Family Nobody Wanted Mrs. Bittner Cage Without a Key Mrs. Little The First 36 Hours of Dr. Durant Nurse Katherine Gunther TV pilot Barnaby Jones Edna Morrison 1 episode Harry O Anne Kershaw The Six Million Dollar Man Middy1976 The Blue Knight Mrs. Stryker James Dean Claire Folger TV film Petrocelli Nancy Berwick 1 episode Joe Forrester Wanted: The Sundance Woman Mattie Riley TV film; a.k.a. Mrs. Sundance Rides Again Visions Aunt Sara 1 episode Spencer's Pilots Elly1977 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 1977–1979 The Mike Douglas Show Herself 6 episodes 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)1978 Getting Married Vera Lesser TV film Pearl Mrs. Sally Colton, Madam TV miniseries1979 $weepstake$ Lynn 1 episode Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Elaine Thurston TV film 1979–83 Benson Jessica Tate 2 episodes; also as director 1980 Scout's Honor Pearl Bartlett TV film 1981–86 The Love Boat Vivian / Harriet Darnell Stevens 3 episodes1982 World War III Dorothy Longworth TV miniseries For Lovers Only Bea Winchell TV film Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story Frances Clooney1983 Faerie Tale Theatre Jack's mother 1 episode Fantasy Island Laura Walters / George Walters 1984 Not in Front of the Kids Millie Rosen TV film 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)Nominated — TV Land Award for Favorite Mother-in-Law (2005) 1985 Comedy Factory Mildred Deegan 1 episode1986 Charmed Lives Mona Robinson Girls on Top Goldie DuPont 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 film1991 The Perfect Tribute Farm Woman Deception: A Mother's Secret Geena Milner TV film; a.k.a. Tell Me No Lies1992 Grass Roots Emma Carr TV film Batman: The Animated Series Connie Stromwell 1 episode; Voice role1993 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 1996–2004 Everybody Loves Raymond Lois Whelan 14 episodesNominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2002) 1997 Ms. Scrooge Maude Marley TV film1999 The Wild Thornberrys Dugong 1 episode; Voice role Providence Rose Bidwell 2 episodes2000 Strong Medicine Cicely Nordeco 1 episode How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale Shatzie TV film 2001 Living in Fear Mrs. Ford 2002 Mr. St. Nick Queen Carlotta 2004–2005 The Tony Danza Show Herself / Mona Robinson 3 episodes 2007 A Grandpa for Christmas Roxie Famosa TV film2010 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 Episode: "Time Travel Mater"; Voice
Video games Year Title Role 2006 Cars Lizzie 2007 Cars Mater-National Championship
References