The actress appeared in more than 70 different film and television shows over the course of her 50 years in entertainment.

Helen Siff, Modern Family and *Karate Kid *actress, dies at 88

The actress appeared in more than 70 different film and television shows over the course of her 50 years in entertainment.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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on December 22, 2025 1:39 p.m. ET

Helen Siff in 2010. Credit:

David Livingston/Getty

Helen Siff, a character actress who appeared on television shows like *Modern Family *and *Scrubs*, as well as in films like *The Karate Kid,* has died. She was 88. **

Siff died Dec. 18 in Los Angeles from complications from surgery to treat a “long, painful illness,” her family told* The Hollywood Reporter* and Forbes. **

“Those who worked with Helen knew her not just as a talented performer, but as someone who brought professionalism, dedication and genuine kindness to every set,” her family said in a statement to both outlets. "She understood that every role, no matter how large or small, was an opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the story being told.”

Helen Siff on 'Modern Family'.

Born in Woodmere, N.Y., Siff’s acting career spans 50-plus years and includes more than 70 film and television credits. In their statement, Siff’s family noted that she “had the rare gift of making even the smallest part memorable.” **

She landed her very first screen role in 1981 as a waitress on *Lou Grant*, the drama series co-created by James L. Brooks, Allan Burns, and Gene Reynolds. Siff would continue to find success over the decade in shows like *Cagney & Lacy, L.A. Law*, *Doogie Hoswer, M.D., *and appeared as a cashier in *The Karate Kid. *

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In the ‘90s, she had a two-episode stint on *Married… With Children *and guest-starred on popular shows like *Sister, Sister, Mad About You, *and *Felicity. *Over the next three decades, she would go on to appear on shows like *Will & Grace*, *Ellen*, *Scrubs*, *My Name Is Earl*, *Modern Family*, *S.W.A.T.*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and *Good Trouble*.**

Siff also graced the big screen in films like the George Clooney-headlined *Hail, Caesar, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, *and* The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu*. She filmed her final role, portraying a saloon waitress on Apple TV+ series *High Desert*, in 2023.

In a separate Instagram statement, Siff's daughter Victoria remembered her as a "dynamic, charismatic, one-of-a-kind mom." She continued, "She loved her craft deeply, but her greatest role was being a mother and grandmother … You’ve taken your final bow , mommy …. I will love you forever."

Siff is survived by sisters Janet and Carol Infield Sender, the latter of whom was her identical twin; children Matt, Susie, Karen, Victoria, and Jenny; and grandchildren Chelsea, Zach, Robert, Josh, Spencer, Megan, and Dean, per the outlets. Her husband Marshall died in 2007, and her son Bruce died in 1999.

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