Moore, Mary Tyler

Moore, Mary Tyler,

1936–2017, American actress, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. Although she began her career as a dancer, Moore's success blossomed with her roles on television, first in small parts on various series; followed by the secretary on "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1959); then as the costar of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961–66), for which she won two Emmy awards; and finally with the top-rated "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970–77). The last was the first show to center on a witty, intelligent, unmarried, and happy career woman; her character helped redefine the popular image of the contemporary American woman, and won her four more Emmys. In 1969, with then-husband Grant Tinker, she formed MTM Enterprises, which produced other successful television series. She later appeared in several television shows and movies, winning her seventh Emmy for Stolen Babies (1993). She also had notable successes on Broadway in Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1980, Tony Award) and in the film Ordinary People (1980).

Bibliography

See her memoirs, After All (1995) and Growing Up Again (2009).

Moore, Mary Tyler

(1934– ) television actress; born in New York City. A professional dancer, she began her career as a comic actress on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1960–65). She then starred in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77), a CBS situation comedy that gained her the nickname, "American's girl friend." She founded MTM productions (1970–81) with her then husband, Grant Tinker. She subsequently worked as a dramatic actress in the movie Ordinary People (1980) and in made-for-television movies such as Thanksgiving Day (1990).