Mary Tyler Moore was a highly acclaimed American actress, producer, and social advocate. Best known for her iconic roles in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," she significantly impacted American television by portraying a modern, independent woman. Her show resonated with audiences navigating the challenges of contemporary life. Moore's exceptional talent earned her numerous awards, including seven Primetime Emmys and three Golden Globes. She also received an Academy Award nomination for her role in "Ordinary People" and garnered praise for other notable film and television performances such as "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Flirting with Disaster," and "Heartsounds." Beyond her acting career, Moore passionately advocated for animal rights, vegetarianism, and diabetes awareness and research.
December 29, 1936: Birth of Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore was born on December 29, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York.
1936: Early Life and Family
Mary Tyler Moore was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936 to Marjorie and George Tyler Moore. Her father worked as a clerk.
1945: Move to Los Angeles
At the age of eight, in 1945, Moore's family moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
1955: Television Debut as "Happy Hotpoint"
Mary Tyler Moore's television career began in 1955 when she took on the role of "Happy Hotpoint", an elf character in commercials for Hotpoint appliances.
September 1960: Guest Appearances on Television Shows
In September 1960, Moore made guest appearances on shows such as The Tab Hunter Show.
December 1960: Guest Appearance on Bachelor Father
Moore guest-starred on an episode of Bachelor Father in December 1960.
1961: Casting in The Dick Van Dyke Show
Carl Reiner cast Mary Tyler Moore in The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1961.
1961: Various Television and Film Roles
In 1961, Moore secured several roles in movies and TV shows like Bourbon Street Beat, 77 Sunset Strip, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.
1961: The Dick Van Dyke Show Debut
Mary Tyler Moore joined the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1961.
February 1962: Guest Appearance on Straightaway
Mary Tyler Moore appeared in an episode of Straightaway in February 1962.
December 1966: Broadway Debut in Holly Golightly
Moore starred in a musical adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's titled Holly Golightly in December 1966. Unfortunately, the show closed during previews.
1966: End of The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show concluded its run in 1966.
1970: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Pitch and Production
Following a musical special, Moore and her husband, Grant Tinker, successfully pitched The Mary Tyler Moore Show to CBS in 1970.
1970: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Premiere
The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered in 1970, marking a significant milestone in Moore's career and television history.
1972: Endorsement of Richard Nixon
In 1972, despite having a reputation as a liberal or moderate, Mary Tyler Moore endorsed President Richard Nixon for re-election.
January 22, 1976: Mary's Incredible Dream Special
On January 22, 1976, while The Mary Tyler Moore Show was still on air, Moore appeared in an experimental musical/variety special called Mary's Incredible Dream.
1977: Final Season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Despite declining ratings, the 1977 season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show won its third consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Comedy.
1977: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Finale
The Mary Tyler Moore Show aired its final episode in 1977.
1977: End of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show concluded its run in 1977.
1978: Television Specials and Variety Series
Mary Tyler Moore starred in another CBS special, How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness, in 1978. She also starred in two short-lived variety series, Mary and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, during the 1978-79 season.
March 1979: The Mary Tyler Moore Hour Debut
The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, a "sit-var" combining sitcom and variety elements, premiered in March 1979.
1980: Endorsement of Jimmy Carter
Mary Tyler Moore endorsed President Jimmy Carter for re-election in 1980, appearing in a campaign television ad.
1980: Special Tony Award
Mary Tyler Moore received a Special Tony Award for her performance in "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" in 1980. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award.
February 1981: Academy Award Nomination and Golden Globe Win
In February 1981, Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Ordinary People," but lost to Sissy Spacek. However, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama for the same role.
1984: Tony and Drama Desk Award Nominations as Producer
In 1984, as a producer, Moore received nominations for Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for MTM's production of "Noises Off."
1985: Tony Award for Joe Egg
Mary Tyler Moore won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play or Musical in 1985 for "Joe Egg."
1985: Return to Sitcoms with Mary
Moore returned to CBS in 1985 with a new sitcom titled Mary, which unfortunately faced negative reviews and low ratings.
1986: Television Hall of Fame Induction and Award Nominations
In 1986, Mary Tyler Moore was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. She was also nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards as a producer for "Benefactors."
1987: Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy
In 1987, Mary Tyler Moore received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy from the American Comedy Awards.
1988: Annie McGuire Series
Moore starred in the short-lived sitcom Annie McGuire in 1988.
1992: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 1992, Mary Tyler Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard, recognizing her contributions to the television industry.
1993: Emmy Award for Stolen Babies
Mary Tyler Moore won an Emmy Award in 1993 for her portrayal of Georgia Tann in the Lifetime made-for-TV film "Stolen Babies."
1995: Donation to Shepherd College
In 1995, Mary Tyler Moore donated funds to Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) in West Virginia. The donation was used to acquire the historic Conrad Shindler House for use as a center for Civil War studies, named the George Tyler Moore Center in honor of her father.
2001: Guest Appearance on The Ellen Show
Moore guest-starred on The Ellen Show in 2001.
May 8, 2002: Mary Richards Statue Dedication
On May 8, 2002, a statue of Mary Richards, Moore's character from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," was dedicated in downtown Minneapolis. The statue depicts the iconic hat toss from the show's opening credits.
2004: The Dick Van Dyke Show Reunion
In 2004, the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show, including Moore, reunited for a special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited.
2006: Guest Role on That '70s Show
Moore guest-starred in three episodes of That '70s Show in 2006, with her scenes filmed on the same soundstage as The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
March 22, 2009: Political Views Revealed
On March 22, 2009, Mary Tyler Moore identified herself as a libertarian centrist in a Parade magazine article. She mentioned watching Fox News and liking commentators such as Charles Krauthammer and Bill O'Reilly, and stated she would have campaigned for John McCain if asked.
2011: Shifting Political Views
In 2011, Ed Asner stated in an interview that Mary Tyler Moore had become more conservative in recent years. Bill O'Reilly corroborated this, adding that Moore watched his show.
2011: Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Tyler Moore was awarded the Screen Actors Guild's lifetime achievement award in 2011.
2012: Ride of Fame Honor
In 2012, Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters were honored by the Ride of Fame in New York City for their charity work with "Broadway Barks." A double-decker bus was dedicated to them.
2013: Views on Feminism
During a 2013 interview for the PBS series Pioneers of Television, Mary Tyler Moore discussed her views on feminism. While recruited by Gloria Steinem, Moore disagreed with some of Steinem's views, believing women had an important role in raising children and not necessarily needing a career.
2013: Hot in Cleveland Reunion
In 2013, Moore appeared in a Hot in Cleveland episode that reunited her with Betty White and other Mary Tyler Moore Show cast members.
2015: Statue Relocation
The Mary Richards statue was temporarily relocated to the city's visitor center in late 2015 during renovations.
January 25, 2017: Death of Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore passed away on January 25, 2017.
2017: Statue Reinstallation
The Mary Richards statue was reinstalled in its original location in downtown Minneapolis in 2017.