‘Who’s The Boss?’ Stars Judith Light, Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano & Danny Pintauro Remember Katherine Helmond
Katherine Helmond’s castmates from Who’s the Boss? and Everybody Loves Raymond, including Judith Light, Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano and Patricia Heaton, were among those remembering the actress with love and admiration today.
Light, who starred in Who’s the Boss? as Angela Bower, daughter of Helmond’s Mona, said in a statement: “Katherine Helmond was a remarkable human being and an extraordinary artist; generous, gracious, charming and profoundly funny. She taught me so much about life and inspired me indelibly by watching her work. Katherine was a gift to our business and to the world, and will be deeply missed.”
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Who’s the Boss?
In an interview with Deadline, Boss‘ Tony Danza said: “She was such an influence on me. From being a single guy with a hit show in Hollywood, though my marriage and having kids — she was with me. No matter what problem I had, I could go to her. Very few people could match her.” For more of Danza’s memories of Helmond, go here.
Alyssa Milano, who played Danza’s daughter and a sort of honorary granddaughter to Helmond’s Mona, tweeted: “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!”
Danny Pintauro, who played Light’s son, wrote in part, “I couldn’t have asked for a better grandmother and I will miss her so dearly.”
On Everybody Loves Raymond, Helmond played the mother of Patricia Heaton’s Debra Barone. Today, Heaton recalled Helmond as “such a class act and incredibly down to earth.”
Read below for Heaton’s full message, and reactions from other co-stars, friends and colleagues.
We lost one of the most genuine and kind people I have ever known. There's not a single person who can say otherwise – she was always smiling, full of heart, and had the best advice. I couldn't have asked for a better grandmother and I will miss her so dearly. pic.twitter.com/0fapCPQWuV
— Danny Pintauro (@dannypintauro) March 1, 2019
We all lost a national treasure today. No words can measure my love. pic.twitter.com/eGTf6Ovt3f
— Tony Danza (@TonyDanza) March 1, 2019
Katherine Helmond has passed away.
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!
Rest In Peace, Katherine. pic.twitter.com/HNIH0Ty6MN
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 1, 2019
Katherine Helmond was such a class act and incredibly down to earth. She was terrific as my mother on #EveryboyLovesRaymond and I looked up to her as a role model. #RIPKatherineHelmond https://t.co/Yiku05soq4
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) March 1, 2019
R.I.P. dear Katherine Helmond. You were a joy and an inspiration in my career and my life.
— Joe Mantegna (@JoeMantegna) March 1, 2019
I thought Katherine Helmond was perfection on SOAP.
Rest In Peace
We lost another good one.
— HABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) March 1, 2019
Yeah. Katherine Helmond. Can’t recall feeling anything other than delight when she would show up onscreen. Met her once. I could not keep my shit together. She was polite. RIP lady.
— Garret Dillahunt (@garretdillahunt) March 1, 2019
RIP Katherine Helmond. What an awesome presence you were in everything you did. A consummate artist
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) March 1, 2019
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