Katherine Helmond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Helmond) in real life, was born in 1929. So she would've been about 54-55 when Who's the Boss? debuted in 1984. She was about 20 years older than her "daughter" Judith Light, who was born in 1949.

I asked this because there was an episode late in the series' run called "Grandmommie Dearest", where Mona's mother visits and disapproves of Tony and Angela's engagement, because he's "working-class" and she's more of a "blue-blood".

Marian Seldes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Seldes), the actress who portrayed Mona's mom, was only about a year older than Katherine Helmond was in real life.

https://pictures.betaseries.com/banners/episodes/76587/201153.jpg

Marian Seldes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Seldes), the actress who portrayed Mona's mom, was only about a year older than Katherine Helmond was in real life.

Wow, that is crazy! I remember being shocked when "Great Grandma Robinson" showed up, and not that old either, lol. I can't believe they got someone just 1 year older.

But yeah, I'd always pictured Mona in her mid 50s when the series began.