Mona Kane Tyler

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Mona Kane Tyler

Frances Heflin as Mona Kane Tyler
All My Children
Portrayed by Frances Heflin
First appearance January 5, 1970
Last appearance June 1994
Cause/reason Peacefully passed away in her sleep
Profile
Occupation Former Administrative Assistant to Dr. Charles Tyler. Chief of Staff of Pine Valley Hospital and then to Dr. Joseph Martin, who succeeds Dr. Tyler upon his retirement.
Residence Pine Valley, Pennsylvania

Mona Kane Tyler (1924 - 1994) was an original fictional character on the long-running American soap opera All My Children. Mona was portrayed by the late Frances Heflin from the first episode on January 5, 1970 until her death in June 1994.

[edit] Brief character history

Mona Kane debuts on the show All My Children as the working mother of Erica Kane and secretary to Dr. Charles Tyler. She divorces her philandering husband, movie director Eric Kane, after he deserts her and nine-year-old Erica. One of the first successful single parents portrayed on daytime television,[citation needed] Mona dedicates her life to raising Erica. But this love and dedication is never enough; initially, Erica blames Mona for her father's desertion.

The other true love in Mona's life is Dr. Charles Tyler, who, in 1970, is married to Phoebe. As Phoebe's relentless badgering of Charles accelerates, he turns to Mona for love and affection. Mona blackmails Phoebe into granting Charles a divorce (one of the grandest gestures she ever makes). After his divorce from Phoebe, he and Mona are married and remain hopelessly in love until his death.

[edit] A daughter's realization and death of a mother

Mona always defends Erica, despite her daughter's consistently questionable choices.

Mona and Erica.
Mona and Erica.

To Erica, however, this love is interference. When Mona is diagnosed with lung cancer, Erica finally realizes how much her mother means to her, and how lonely and empty her life will be without her. Mona recovers.

Mona also dotes upon her granddaughters, Kendall and Bianca, and is best friends with Myrtle Fargate.

Mona dies in her sleep in 1994. Erica, who had been unable to express her emotions, breaks down at the funeral and hurls herself onto her mother's coffin, crying hysterically.