Katherine Marie Helmond (born July 5, 1929) is an American film, theater and television actress, voice artist 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 (1977–1981), her co-starring role as feisty mother, Mona Robinson on
Who's the Boss? (1984–1992), opposite
Tony Danza. She also played more mothers, Doris Sherman on
Coach, and Lois Whelan on
Everybody Loves Raymond. She has also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows.