Alyssa Milano and Tony Danza Mourn the Death of Who's the Boss? Costar Katherine Helmond
Alyssa Milano and Tony Danza are mourning the loss of their Who’s the Boss? costar Katherine Helmond, who died last month.
Helmond, who famously portrayed mother Mona Robinson in ABC’s Who’s The Boss? for eight years and Jessica Tate on Soap, died on Feb. 23 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Los Angeles, her talent agency, APA, announced. She was 89.
Following news of her passing, Milano, 46, paid tribute to the legendary star, with whom she starred as Samantha Micelli on the sitcom from 1984-92.
“Katherine Helmond has passed away. My beautiful, kind, funny, gracious, compassionate, rock. You were an instrumental part of my life,” Milano captioned a series of photos of Helmond shared on Twitter Friday.
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“You taught me to hold my head above the marsh!” continued Milano. “You taught me to do anything for a laugh! What an example you were! Rest In Peace, Katherine.”
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
In celebration of Katherine Helmond and her brilliance! https://t.co/vaepWn2bpx
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 1, 2019
???? pic.twitter.com/0TzVITSik5
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 1, 2019
In two follow-up tweets, the Charmed star shared a clip of the late actress on the show and a GIF of her credit on the series, which she captured with a broken heart emoji.
Danza — who played former baseball player, housekeeper, and single father Tony Micelli in the series — also paid his respects to Helmond.
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“I was in love with her. 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,” Danza, 67, told Deadline. “No matter what problem I had, I could go to her. Very few people could match her.”
Before her Who’s The Boss? run, Helmond earned praise for her portrayal of Tate family matriarch in ABC’s soap opera sitcom Soap (1977-1981).
“We luckily got Jessica from Soap,” Danza told the publication. “Oh my God, we hit the lottery. She was a consummate professional — never made a mistake and always got the laugh. She was the sexy older lady who could keep up with the young people. She just had a way about her.”
