Mark Consuelos mourns death of his father in emotional 'Live' segment
Mark Consuelos mourns death of his father in emotional 'Live' segment
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYMon, April 6, 2026 at 4:34 PM UTC
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Mark Consuelos is opening up about a death in the family.
The "Live with Kelly and Mark" host, 55, began the April 6 episode of the talk show by sharing that his father, Saul Consuelos, died "peacefully" two weeks ago after a "long bout with illness."
Consuelos, who said he was able to "thankfully get down there and say goodbye," described his dad as "such a fascinating man," while his wife and cohost, Kelly Ripa, said she was grateful to have known him for the past 30 years.
Ripa and Consuelos have been married since 1996, and they share three adult children.
"We have been blessed. You have been blessed more because you knew him your full life," Ripa said, addressing Consuelos. "I only got to know my father-in-law for 31 years, but they were the best 31 years of my life. I can honestly say that I will miss him every day for the rest of my life, as I know you will, as our children will. He was the greatest person I've ever known."
Kelly Ripa, left, and Mark Consuelos attend the Oscars on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California.
Ripa told Consuelos his father was "so symbolic of everything you are," and she recalled the way he would help take care of their children when Ripa and Consuelos were working. Consuelos reflected on the way his dad gave him a "lot of lectures" growing up and would constantly show him how to fix things around the house. "I learned the most by just watching him. Those are the lessons I learned from him, by watching the man he was," he said.
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Consuelos noted that his father immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was a teenager and served in the Navy. "He loved this country so much," he said, adding, "If you were to put a face to an immigrant, he would be the prime example of what this country promises people here in this country, and he raised three pretty good kids."
Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Camilla Consuelos and Saul Consuelos attend the premiere of "Off the Rez" during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2011, in New York City.
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Ripa shared that her children with Consuelos have been taking the death "particularly hard" because it is the first time they have lost one of their grandparents. But Ripa said she has also stressed to her kids, who are all in their 20s, how lucky they are to have grandparents in their lives into adulthood.
Kelly Ripa, left, and Mark Consuelos attend the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame Awards 33rd Anniversary Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on Sept. 30, 2025, in New York City.
"You are the strongest person I know," Ripa told her husband as they wrapped the segment. "You continually inspire me every day. And all of the good things that I love about you, I loved those same things about your dad. So I just want to say thank you, dad, for everything you gave to us."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Consuelos' dad dies after illness
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
