US actress Katherine Helmond has died aged 89 after suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The star of Who’s the Boss and Brazil died at her home in Los Angeles on February 23 from complications from the disease, her talent agency APA confirmed.
Ms Helmond, a seven-time Emmy Award nominee, had big roles in hit television sitcoms during the 1970s and 1990s, including Soap.
The Texas native also had recurring roles in Everybody Loves Raymond and Coach.
Paying tribute, Ms Helmond’s husband, David Christian, said: “She was the love of my life.
“We spent 57 beautiful, wonderful, loving years together, which I will treasure forever.
“I’ve been with Katherine since I was 19 years old. The night she died, I saw that the moon was exactly half-full, just as I am now… half of what I’ve been my entire adult life."
Ms Helmond said she “blossomed” when given the opportunity to perform.
She said: “I felt I blossomed as a person when I got a chance to act. It’s been like an incredible marriage that really worked. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Actress Alyssa Milano, who also appeared in Who’s the Boss, wrote: “Katherine Helmond has passed away.
“My beautiful, kind, funny, gracious, compassionate, rock. You were an instrumental part of my life. You taught me to hold my head above the marsh! You taught me to do anything for a laugh! What an example you were! Rest In Peace, Katherine.”
Ms Helmond was born on July 5, 1929, in Galveston, Texas, and attended the fundamentalist Christian Bob Jones University. She later became a Buddhist.
She took a variety of roles on stage and TV, but her career took off after being nominated in 1973 for a Tony Award for her performance in Eugene O'Neill's "The Great God Brown."
Ms was married twice and is survived by her husband. She had no children.
