Topic: Katherine Helmond

Katherine Marie Helmond (born July 5, 1928 in Galveston, Texas) is an American film, theater and television actress, who played Emily Dickinson on Meeting of Minds, as well as such fictional characters as Jessica Tate on Soap, Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?, Doris Sherman on Coach, and Lois Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Helmond acted in the television movie The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) playing Emma Lenora Borden. She appeared in an episode of the short-lived 1976 CBS adventure series, Spencer's Pilots, starring Gene Evans. Helmond gained fame as Jessica Tate, the ditzy matriarch on Soap. She was a lead player on the controversial ABC series from 1977 until it was canceled in 1981. In 1984 she took the role of "Mona Robinson" on the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss?. The show was a ratings success, running for eight seasons and finishing in the Nielsen "Top 10" four straight years. In 1993 she appeared in one episode of the British version of Who's the Boss?, The Upper Hand.

From 1995–1997 she starred in the ABC sitcom Coach as Doris Sherman, eccentric owner of the fictional Orlando Breakers professional football team. From 1996 to 2004 Helmond had a recurring role on Everybody Loves Raymond as Lois Whelan (Ray Barone's mother-in-law).