Mark Consuelos just announced the death of his father, Saul Consuelos, on April 6, telling viewers on Live with Kelly and Mark that his dad passed “two weeks ago” after a long illness and that he died peacefully. This was the latest on-screen confirmation from the couple; it came as Mark — who is 55 — described his father as a brilliant immigrant and Navy veteran whose life shaped his own. This moment underscores a common American story: a child of immigrants honoring a parent who used service and education to build a new life.
Speaking on the daytime show, Consuelos gave a measured, grateful account of Saul’s life: he immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, served roughly 30 years in the Navy (including time in special operations command in Tampa), pursued higher education while raising a family and earned a master’s degree. “I learned the most by just watching him… by watching the man he was,” Mark said, calling Saul “such a fascinating man.” Who wouldn’t admire that arc?
Kelly Ripa — his wife and cohost — added her voice on air, saying Mark was “blessed” to have known his father his whole life and that Saul was “the greatest person I’ve ever known.” She also noted how hard the loss has been for their three children — Michael, 28; Lola, 24; and Joaquin, 23 — pointing out that this is their first experience of losing a close family member. “They took it particularly hard,” she said, explaining that children who grow up with grandparents lose something important when they pass away.
Consuelos said he was able to travel and say goodbye amid his professional commitments — he paused rehearsals for his Broadway debut in Fallen Angels to be with family — and that performing onstage proved a welcome distraction during mourning. He credited his father’s example for raising “three pretty good kids” and discussed plans to support Saul’s widow, including gently encouraging her to move to New York and even pitching a lighthearted idea of a cooking segment for the show (he’s trying to convince his mom to relocate).
Not all of Monday’s Live segment focused on grief. The couple also shared a lighter anecdote about their dog Lena: Ripa revealed the rescue pup’s shelter name was Angelina, inspired by Jersey Shore’s Angelina Pivarnick, and said they shortened it to Lena after adopting her on the program in 2021. The moment offered a softer counterbalance to the conversation about loss — a reminder of how daytime television mixes intimacy, humor and family life.
Public expressions of grief on morning shows are familiar territory — celebrities often use live TV to announce personal milestones or losses — but Consuelos’ remarks stood out for their detailed portrait of an immigrant father’s service and upward mobility. Expect the family to share funeral or memorial details privately; for now Mark is juggling Broadway dates and a national television platform while processing the loss with his wife and children.