Mark Consuelos has shared an emotional reflection on the heartbreaking death of his beloved father, Saul Consuelos, revealing that the family endured a “brutal” five-month decline before his passing at the age of 87. 💔
The LIVE with Kelly and Mark co-host, 55, spoke with raw honesty about losing the man he described as one of the greatest influences of his life. Saul passed away on March 23 after a long illness, leaving behind a family shaken by grief but comforted by the peaceful way his final moments unfolded.
Appearing on the I’ve Never Said This Before with Tommy DiDario podcast, Mark admitted he had known for months that the end was approaching. Watching his father’s health fade was painful, and the actor said the family slowly prepared themselves for the devastating reality that Saul’s life was coming to a close.
For Mark, the waiting was agonising. He described the months leading up to his father’s death as a difficult emotional journey, one filled with fear, acceptance and quiet prayer. But amid the heartbreak, he said he hoped above all else that his father would be spared unnecessary suffering.
And, in the end, Mark said that prayer was answered. Saul’s death, he explained, was quick, painless and merciful — a small but deeply meaningful comfort after months of anguish. 🙏
The Riverdale actor became visibly emotional as he spoke about the depth of his admiration for Saul, calling him almost mythical in his eyes. To Mark, his father was not simply a parent; he was a model of strength, dignity and goodness. He credited Saul with shaping the way he carries himself as a man, a husband and a father.
Saul Consuelos lived a remarkable life. A US Navy veteran who immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, he served the United States for 30 years and eventually worked with the US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. His story was one of service, sacrifice and quiet resilience — qualities Mark clearly continues to hold close.
On April 27, the Consuelos family gathered for a celebration of life in Saul’s honour, creating a deeply personal farewell filled with culture, memory and love. The memorial included a Mexican ofrenda and a mariachi band, offering a poignant tribute to the patriarch’s heritage and the legacy he left behind. 🌹
But it was during that memorial, Mark said, that the reality of his father’s death truly hit him. The permanence of the loss became impossible to ignore. He spoke tenderly about missing the simple things: hugging his father, holding his hand, laughing with him. Those ordinary moments, once taken for granted, had suddenly become priceless memories.
In one especially moving admission, Mark said he had never before said the words “I miss my dad” — because, until now, his father had always been there. Always available. Always part of the foundation beneath him. That realisation made the grief feel even sharper.
Mark first publicly announced Saul’s death during the April 6 episode of LIVE with Kelly and Mark. His wife, Kelly Ripa, shared that their three adult children — Michael, Lola and Joaquin — had taken the loss particularly hard, as it marked their first major experience with death in the family.
Now, as the Consuelos family moves through grief, Mark said their focus has shifted to caring for his mother, Camilla, who still lives in Florida. He revealed they are trying to convince her to move to New York, though he lovingly described her as stubborn and full of character. ❤️
The loss comes during a deeply emotional season for Mark and Kelly, who recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on May 1. The couple, who first met in 1995 before starring together as lovers Mateo and Hayley on All My Children, famously eloped in Las Vegas in 1996 after just one year of dating.
Despite the pain of losing his father, Mark has also been surrounded by moments of professional and family pride. He recently made his Broadway debut in Fallen Angels opposite Rose Byrne, while his youngest son Joaquin made his own Broadway debut in Death of a Salesman. For Mark, having father and son on Broadway at the same time has been an almost unbelievable full-circle moment.
Still, behind the bright lights, anniversaries and career milestones is a man quietly carrying the ache of losing his father. Mark’s words offered a tender reminder that grief does not erase love — it magnifies it. And for him, Saul Consuelos remains not only a cherished father, but the man whose example continues to guide him every day. ✨
