Katherine Helmond
Biography
Katherine Helmond was an American actress whose career in stage, television, and film spanned six decades. Born in Galveston, Texas, she was not professionally trained and learned her craft through practical experience, starting with a stage debut in As You Like It and New York City work from 1955. She ran a summer theater in the Catskills and taught acting in university theater programs. On Broadway she earned a Tony nomination for The Great God Brown (1973) and appeared in Private Lives, Don Juan, and Mixed Emotions. Her film roles included Family Plot (1976), Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), and Overboard (1987). She was best known as Jessica Tate on Soap and Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?, and she also played Doris Sherman on Coach and Lois Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond, earning Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe awards. She voiced Lizzie in the Cars films from 2006 to 2017, including Cars (2006).
89years old at death
- Born Galveston
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Katherine Marie Helmond (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 41 years1971 to 2012
Genres
First and latest
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Early training
Helmond was not professionally trained and said her training was all practical and on the job, learning her craft through experience while she cleaned toilets and repaired costumes during her early New York stage work.
A change of course
Helmond spent three seasons running a summer theater in the Catskills, and she also taught acting in theater programs at universities.
First role
Helmond made her television debut without a credit in 1962 on Car 54, Where Are You?, but she did not start appearing on television regularly until 1973.
Katherine Helmond movies on Netflix
Time Travel Materas Lizzie
Collaboratoras Irene Longfellow
Carsas Lizzie (voice)
Beethoven's 5thas Crazy Cora Wilkens
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegasas Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel
Lady in Whiteas Amanda
Overboardas Edith Mintz
Brazilas Mrs. Ida Lowry
Time Banditsas Mrs. Ogre
Little Ladies of the Nightas Miss Colby
Family Plotas Mrs. Maloney
The Hindenburgas Mrs. Mildred Breslau
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittmanas Lady at House
The Hospitalas Marilyn Mead
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas1998 Comedy, Dramaas Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel
IMDb rating 7.4322K votes
Most often with
Terry Gilliam directed three of these films. Richard Dysart appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Richard Dysart3 films together, 1971 to 1975
Richard Dysart's page The Hindenburg1975IMDb rating 6.3Helmond as Mrs. Mildred BreslauDysart as Lehman
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman1974IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Lady at HouseDysart as Master Bryant
The Hospital1971IMDb rating 7.1Helmond as Marilyn MeadDysart as Dr. Welbeck
Jim Broadbent2 films together, 1981 to 1985
Jim Broadbent's page Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Mrs. Ida LowryBroadbent as Dr. Jaffe
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Helmond as Mrs. OgreBroadbent as Compere
Ian Holm2 films together, 1981 to 1985
Ian Holm's page Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Mrs. Ida LowryHolm as Mr. Kurtzmann
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Helmond as Mrs. OgreHolm as Napoleon
George C. Scott2 films together, 1971 to 1975
George C. Scott's page The Hindenburg1975IMDb rating 6.3Helmond as Mrs. Mildred BreslauScott as Col. Franz Ritter
The Hospital1971IMDb rating 7.1Helmond as Marilyn MeadScott as Dr. Herbert Bock
Peter Vaughan2 films together, 1981 to 1985
Peter Vaughan's page Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Mrs. Ida LowryVaughan as Mr. Helpmann
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Helmond as Mrs. OgreVaughan as Winston the Ogre
Michael Palin2 films together, 1981 to 1985
Michael Palin's page Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Mrs. Ida LowryPalin as Jack Lint
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Helmond as Mrs. OgrePalin as Vincent
Terry GilliamDirector, 3 films, 1981 to 1998
All films by Terry Gilliam Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas1998IMDb rating 7.4Helmond as Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel
Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Helmond as Mrs. Ida Lowry
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Helmond as Mrs. Ogre
Also two films together3 more actors
- Larry the Cable GuyTime Travel Mater (2012) and Cars (2006)
- Stephen ElliottThe Hindenburg (1975) and The Hospital (1971)
- Jared RushtonLady in White (1988) and Overboard (1987)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Two awards and honors from 1981 to 1989, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1989 | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Who's the Boss? | Won |
| 1981 | Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Soap | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


