Katherine Helmond
Katherine Helmond
Katherine Marie Helmond is an American film, theater and television actress and director. In her four decades of television, she is known for playing Emily Dickinson on Meeting of Minds, but is best known for her starring role as the ditzy matriarch, Jessica Tate, on the ABC prime time soap opera sitcom, Soap, her co-starring role as feisty mother, Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?, opposite Tony Danza's character. She also played more mothers, Doris Sherman on Coach, and Lois...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actress
Date of Birth5 July 1928
CityGalveston, TX
CountryUnited States of America
Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not come forward and play a major role in life. And with age, there's a tendency to revert to that - to pull back, recede. I don't think it's advisable or admirable.
I was never ambitious to be a good actor. I just love doing it and I seem to be quite suited for it.
I went to Catholic school. Do as you're told; don't ask questions and you will be illuminated.
A director recommended me for the role on 'Soap.' They said, 'She plays heavy roles, murderesses and the like.' He said, 'On stage, she could be very very funny.
I had TB as a child. So I was put to doing things like drawing and reading. And I was raised in a family where manners were important. Maybe that's why I seem so refined.
I grew up hearing about the walking undead. I had a fascination with it as a child.
I'd really like to show women my age - who've had children grow up or lost husbands or retired after working all their lives - that there are options. There are choices. We don't have to just sit around and be invisible.
Many times, when a director reads a script and wants somebody who says 'Far out', then they let me do what I want with it and that's usually more interesting for an actor.
The choice of roles as I grow older gets more and more limited, so if I pin myself to one kind of part I would get in trouble. So, these oddball ladies came along for me to do - I guess Terry Gilliam helped in this respect. I have found them more interesting, flashier and I get more mileage out of them.
I was very lucky with 'Soap' and 'Who's the Boss,' which was great fun, and then went on 'Coach' and 'Everybody Loves Raymond.' I've been truly blessed, and the work has all been fun and a joy.