TBH, I thought she was old enough for the Grim Reaper back in the '70’s when she looked old and frail on Soap. Thought she WAS in her 70s on Whose The Boss.
Awwwww. 
RIP Mrs. Helmond; you were amazing.
Yes, she did seem to be a “woman of a certain age” for as long as I can remember, and that’s about 40 years. She was funny as hell though, and though I of course don’t know her, I feel like a teeny tiny part of my life is gone. RIP, Mona.
I am sorry to hear this. Aside from Soap, I best remember her from some Terry Gilliam films–Sam Lowry’s mom in Brazil, and the ogre’s wife in Time Bandits (which I always saw as a take on Beauty & the Beast 40 years on).
She was so very good at playing a slightly dotty, but lovable, person. I adored her in Soap. “Mickey Mouse’s dog was gay???”
Nobody could wear a shoe like a hat the way she could.
You want me to get that?
If you don’t mind. 
That’s one of my top five favorite funny scenes on TV. Thanks for the link.
I’m so sad to hear this. She was what made Soap so watchable. She was so sweet, pure, innocent, and completely out of touch with reality, and she played it so well. She made me laugh so often, made me cry a few times, and made me just ache for her regularly.
One of my all-time favorites. R.I.P.
You’re welcome!
I’d found that clip last year, when I was visiting with my parents and my sister, and we were reminiscing about Soap. It’s one of my all-time favorite TV scenes, too.
And what about Chuck and Bob? Find out next time… .
She was good, if underused as Ray Barone’s mother-in-law too.
I remember on Soap when she was on trial, and a psychiatrist was trying to determine if she was insane. He opened up a case of blocks and holes, and told her to put the blocks in the correct holes as quickly as possible. She slammed the case shut, picked it up over her head, shook it for a few seconds and put it back on the table. When she opened it all the blocks were in the proper holes and she gave a perfectly satisfied look to the psychiatrist. Wordless and absolutely hilarious.
She was hilarious on Soap. Her talents was wasted in some of the other sitcoms she appeared in, like Who’s the Boss.
The actors who played Chester and Dutch both passed away last year, and Robert Guillame (Benson) in 2017. The older generation of actors on Soap are all gone now.
I loved her on Soap, of course, but she also appeared in Coach for its last two seasons, playing the owner of the fictional NFL team the Orlando Breakers, who hires Hayden Fox to coach her team.
I remember Katherine from Who’s the Boss. I watched the early seasons regularly because of Tony Danza and Judith Light. The characters early season development was quite interesting.
I didn’t follow Katherine’s other work. I recall she appeared in a lot of roles. She played slightly offbeat, mature female roles quite well.
RIP
Oh, Jessica! I will miss you.
Oh man, this does give me a sad, such a funny, funny lady. Getting old sucks, not for me personally but for the thinning of the touchstone people all around me. It’s getting way too common.