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1 | After her guest-starring role on Mater's Tall Tales (2008), she retired from acting at age 82. |
2 | Her mother, Thelma Malone Helmond, had her when she was 19. |
3 | Surrogate mother of her Soap (1977) co-stars, Diana Canova, Billy Crystal and Ted Wass. |
4 | Wore a red bikini on "Who's The Boss" when she was about 60 years old. |
5 | Surrogate grandmother of Alyssa Milano and Danny Pintauro. |
6 | She did not have an agent; when she pursuing her acting career; she also did not have any of her pictures taken; at all. She used a sheet of paper and delivered it to agents until she got one. |
7 | She had a friend of her husband; David Christian; who became a manager of actors; who in turn; came through her husband, who talked Helmond in going to California. She was hesitant; at first; who didn't know anybody. |
8 | Had an extended family, consisting of aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents, in Galveston. |
9 | When she was acting in plays, she didn't have any mentors; she'd watched everybody else, including the director, because the director was responsible for the total and Helmond was a piece of it, hence, she listened to the director. |
10 | Had absolutely no training of acting, outside of attending a Catholic school. |
11 | Helmond was not the only Soap (1977) member to be a Texan, the show's announcer Rod Roddy was also a Texan. |
12 | She and her husband, David Christian, have a history of students of zen. |
13 | The older of 2 sisters. |
14 | At age 34, Helmond moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1963, to continue pursuing her acting career. |
15 | Her mother, Thelma Helmond, passed away just 6 months after the cancellation of Soap (1977). |
16 | Remained good friends with Diana Canova, Billy Crystal and Ted Wass, after the cancellation of Soap (1977). |
17 | Began acting on television when she was 33. |
18 | One of Tony Danza's daughters was named after her. |
19 | Played the same character, Jessica Tate, on 2 series: Soap (1977) and it's spin-off series Benson (1979). |
20 | Briefly attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. |
21 | Has no children. |
22 | When she reprised her role as Jessica Tate on Benson (1979), she received a lot of mail about her character being placed in a firing squad. |
23 | She was raised by both her mother and grandmother. |
24 | Has preferred to work on the stage, because of the actors's medium. |
25 | Her mother, Thelma Helmond, passed away on October 10, 1981, who lived to be 71. |
26 | Was referred by Tony Danza as a 'big sister.'. |
27 | Her favorite show to date was Soap (1977). |
28 | A woman from Houston Playhouse saw Helmond in a play and told her to become a professional actress, fortunately for her, she became one. |
29 | As Helmond got older, she was fortunate enough to send her 2 sisters to college, because as she realized; it was an asset for both men and women to go to school and learn as much as they could. |
30 | Before she was a successful actress and director, she used to work at the Houston Playhouse in Houston, Texas. |
31 | Her father, Joseph Helmond, died on January 31, 1983, who lived to be 78. |
32 | Between Soap (1977) and Who's the Boss? (1984), she had roles on television for 15 consecutive seasons. |
33 | She was a shy child. |
34 | Began her show Soap (1977) at age 48. |
35 | Is a Republican. |
36 | She's close friends with Tony Danza. She frequently talks on the phone with him. |
37 | Her birthplace, Galveston, Texas, is 50 miles south of Houston, Texas. |
38 | For a time, she lived in New York City, New York. |
39 | She attended the Broadway play, "And I Always Will," with her ex-Soap (1977) co-star, Diana Canova, in Redding, Connecticut. |
40 | She won the lead role of Jessica Tate on Soap (1977), because of her experience in comedy in summer stock. |
41 | Owned homes in both New York City and in Los Angeles. |
42 | Was born to a working-class family. |
43 | Has 2 sisters. |
44 | Before she was a successful actress, she used to work at a Community Theater in Galveston, Texas. |
45 | Her mother was so concerned about young Katherine's chance to go to Hollywood, to become an actress. |
46 | Started acting at a Catholic school. |
47 | On Soap (1977), her character, Jessica Tate, was the idea of her friend of her mother's, who wasn't her aunt, in real-life. |
48 | Had always wanted to become an actress. |
49 | Graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, Texas, in 1947. |
50 | Attended the 80th Birthday Party of Robert Guillaume, in 2007. |
51 | Was named after both of her aunts. |
52 | Is one of the two actors to appear in every episode of Soap (1977). |
53 | Began acting at an early age. |
54 | Was called 'Little Patty,' by her father. |
55 | Her father, Joseph Patrick Helmond was a firefighter, and her mother, Thelma Malone Helmond, was a housewife. |
56 | Friends with: Shirley Jones, Robert Mandan, Cathryn Damon, Bea Arthur, Richard Mulligan, Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Gordon Jump, Robert Guillaume, Inga Swenson, Susan Harris, Arthur Peterson, Donnelly Rhodes, Tony Danza, Judith Light, Doris Roberts, Roscoe Lee Browne, John Byner, Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van Dyke, Robert Culp, Philip Rosenthal and Ray Romano. |
57 | Was involved in every writing of the script of Soap (1977), which also involved every camera angles and shots. |
58 | She was the highest-paid entertainer on Soap (1977). |
59 | Had a lot of fun, doing Soap (1977); while staying up late at night doing scenes. |
60 | Is close friends with Robert Mandan, who frequently goes to plays with her. |
61 | Acting mentor and friends of: Diana Canova, Billy Crystal and Ted Wass. |
62 | Best known by the public for her starring role as Jessica Tate on Soap (1977) and for her role as Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss? (1984). |
63 | Was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The Great God Brown." |
64 | Of Irish Catholic extraction on the side of her late mother, Thelma Malone. |
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