Mark Consuelos has spoken publicly for the first time about the depth of his grief following the death of his father, Saul Consuelos, in March. The Live with Kelly and Mark host described the loss as a particularly painful chapter, revealing details of his father's final months in a new podcast interview.
Appearing on the I've Never Said This Before With Tommy DiDario podcast, Consuelos shared that his 87-year-old father endured a 'brutal five-month saga' leading up to his death. He explained that his family knew Saul would not recover, and that he had prayed for a 'merciful exit' for his father, which ultimately came 'quickly and painlessly'.
The actor also paid an emotional tribute to his father, describing him as his rock and the most influential figure in his life. 'My father's a mythical character to me,' Consuelos said. 'He's the best man I've ever met. Everything good that I've kind of glommed onto of how I carry myself comes from him.'
Consuelos revealed that the family held a memorial for his father the previous Monday, which brought the reality of the loss into sharp focus. He admitted that saying 'I miss my dad' for the first time was a significant moment, adding that he would miss 'giving him a hug and holding his hand and just laughing with him'.
At the time of his father's death, Consuelos was in technical rehearsals for his Broadway play, Fallen Angels. He said the production served as a 'welcome distraction' and a reminder of his father's presence, as he often pictures him in the theatre auditorium before going on stage.
His wife and co-host, Kelly Ripa, also shared her own memories of Saul, noting that their three children – Michael, Lola and Joaquin – were struggling with the loss. She expressed gratitude for the time she had with her father-in-law, saying, 'I can honestly say I will miss him every day for the rest of my life', and praised him for caring for their children while she and Mark worked.
