Mary Tyler Moore, television actress and acclaimed comic talent, passed away at a hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was 80.
The actress’ representative, Mara Buxbaum, announced the news. “Today, beloved icon, Mary Tyler Moore, passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine. A groundbreaking actress, producer, and passionate advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as a fearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile.”
Moore was born in Brooklyn, New York. At an early age, she began her career as a dancer, and notably used these skills to good use in several commercials for Hotpoint.
Her acting career began with a small role in Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Following this, she had several small roles in Johnny Staccato and Bachelor Party, among others.
Her claim to fame was her role as the spirited wife of Rob Petrie, the male lead of The Dick Van Dyke show. She became a fashion as well as a feminist icon. Subsequently, her role in The Mary Tyler Moore show only cemented this status.
Mary’s co-star Dick Van Dyke tweeted about his co-star following news of her death.
There are no words.
She was THE BEST!
We always said that we changed each other’s lives for the better.
I… https://t.co/Xm8OBbQQ8j— Dick Van Dyke (@iammrvandy) January 26, 2017
Moore has been the recipient of several awards in her long and storied career. She has a total of four Emmys, three Golden Globe awards and two Tony awards. But, to many young women – writers and otherwise, Moore was a reference point for the modern working woman at a time when being modern and having a career were frowned upon.
*****
