History of Mary Tyler Moore in Timeline
Mary Tyler Moore was a celebrated American actress, producer, and social advocate. She gained prominence through her roles in *The Dick Van Dyke Show* and, most notably, *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, which significantly impacted the portrayal of women in American television and resonated with audiences navigating modern challenges. Throughout her career, Moore received numerous accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance in *Ordinary People*. Beyond her acting career, Moore was actively involved in advocating for animal rights, vegetarianism, and diabetes awareness and research.
December 29, 1936: Mary Tyler Moore Born
On December 29, 1936, Mary Tyler Moore, the American actress, producer, and social advocate was born.
1936: Birth in Brooklyn
In 1936, Mary Tyler Moore was born in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, to Marjorie and George Tyler Moore.
1945: Move to Los Angeles
In 1945, when Mary Tyler Moore was eight years old, her family relocated to Los Angeles, California.
1955: Television Career Begins
In 1955, Mary Tyler Moore's television career began as "Happy Hotpoint" in TV commercials. She was also married in 1955 at age 18.
1955: Marriage to Richard Meeker
In 1955, at age 18, Mary Tyler Moore married Richard Meeker.
July 3, 1956: Birth of Son
On July 3, 1956, Mary Tyler Moore gave birth to her only child, Richard Carleton Meeker Jr.
1957: Film Debut
In 1957, Mary Tyler Moore made her film debut as a nurse in the Jack Lemmon comedy Operation Mad Ball.
September 1960: Guest Starred in Johnny Staccato
In September 1960, Mary Tyler Moore guest-starred in John Cassavetes' NBC detective series Johnny Staccato, and also in the series premiere of The Tab Hunter Show.
December 1960: Bachelor Father Episode
In December 1960, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in the Bachelor Father episode "Bentley and the Big Board".
1961: Various TV Appearances
In 1961, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in several roles in movies and on television, including Bourbon Street Beat; 77 Sunset Strip; Surfside 6; Wanted: Dead or Alive with Steve McQueen; Steve Canyon; Hawaiian Eye; Thriller and Lock-Up.
1961: The Dick Van Dyke Show
In 1961, Mary Tyler Moore starred on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
1961: First Speaking Part in X-15
In 1961, Mary Tyler Moore's first speaking part came in X-15.
February 1962: Straightaway Episode
In February 1962, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in an episode of Straightaway.
1962: Divorce from Richard Meeker
In 1962, Mary Tyler Moore divorced Richard Meeker. Later that year, Moore married Grant Tinker.
December 1966: Breakfast at Tiffany's Musical Flop
In December 1966, Mary Tyler Moore starred in a new musical version of Breakfast at Tiffany's, titled Holly Golightly, which was a flop and closed in previews before opening on Broadway.
1966: End of The Dick Van Dyke Show
In 1966, Mary Tyler Moore finished her role in the Dick Van Dyke show.
1967: Thoroughly Modern Millie
In 1967, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
1968: Films with George Peppard and Robert Wagner
In 1968, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in What's So Bad About Feeling Good? with George Peppard, and Don't Just Stand There! with Robert Wagner.
1969: Forms MTM Enterprises
In 1969, Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker formed the television production company MTM Enterprises.
1969: MTM Enterprises Founded
In 1969, Mary Tyler Moore and her husband Grant Tinker founded MTM Enterprises, Inc., which produced The Mary Tyler Moore Show and other successful television shows and films.
1969: Change of Habit with Elvis Presley
In 1969, Mary Tyler Moore starred opposite Elvis Presley as a nun in Change of Habit.
1969: Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes
In 1969, Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
1969: Run a Crooked Mile
In 1969, Mary Tyler Moore was in the television movie Run a Crooked Mile.
1970: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Pitched
In 1970, Mary Tyler Moore and her husband Grant Tinker successfully pitched a sitcom centered on Moore to CBS, leading to The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
1972: Endorsed Richard Nixon
In 1972, Mary Tyler Moore endorsed President Richard Nixon for re-election.
1973: Breakup and Patch-up
After a 1973 breakup and patch-up, Moore and Tinker announced a permanent separation in 1979.
1977: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Concludes
In 1977, Mary Tyler Moore finished her role in the Mary Tyler Moore show.
1977: Third Emmy for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
In 1977, despite declining ratings, the season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show won its third straight Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy.
1978: CBS Special Airs
In 1978, Mary Tyler Moore starred in a second CBS special, How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness.
1978: First, You Cry
In 1978, Mary Tyler Moore starred in the television movie First, You Cry, which brought her an Emmy nomination.
March 1979: The Mary Tyler Moore Hour Debuts
In March 1979, CBS brought Mary Tyler Moore back in a new, retooled show, The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, a "sit-var" that lasted just 11 episodes.
1979: Separation from Grant Tinker
In 1979, Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker announced a permanent separation.
February 24, 1980: Whose Life Is It Anyway? Opens on Broadway
On February 24, 1980, Mary Tyler Moore starred in Whose Life Is It Anyway? which opened on Broadway at the Royale Theatre.
October 14, 1980: Son's Death
On October 14, 1980, Mary Tyler Moore's son Richard died of an accidental gunshot to the head.
1980: Endorsed Jimmy Carter
In 1980, Mary Tyler Moore endorsed President Jimmy Carter for re-election in a campaign television ad.
1980: Special Tony Award
In 1980, Mary Tyler Moore received a Special Tony Award for her performance in Whose Life Is It Anyway?
1980: Ordinary People
In 1980, Mary Tyler Moore starred in the drama Ordinary People and received an Oscar nomination.
February 1981: Nomination for Academy Award
In February 1981, Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Ordinary People.
1982: Six Weeks
In 1982, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in the film Six Weeks.
November 23, 1983: Marriage to Robert Levine
On November 23, 1983, Mary Tyler Moore, aged 47, married Robert Levine, a 29-year-old cardiologist, at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
1984: Entered Betty Ford Center
In 1984, Mary Tyler Moore admitted herself into the Betty Ford Center, and quit drinking.
1984: Tony and Drama Desk Nominations
In 1984, Mary Tyler Moore received nominations for Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for MTM's productions of Noises Off.
1984: Heartsounds
In 1984, Mary Tyler Moore starred in the medical drama Heartsounds with James Garner, which brought her another Emmy nomination.
1985: Mary Sitcom on CBS
In 1985, Mary Tyler Moore returned to CBS in a sitcom titled Mary, which suffered from poor reviews and was cancelled.
1985: Finnegan Begin Again
In 1985, Mary Tyler Moore starred in Finnegan Begin Again with Robert Preston, which earned her a CableACE Award nomination.
1985: Tony Award
In 1985, Mary Tyler Moore won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play or Musical for Joe Egg.
1986: Just Between Friends
In 1986, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in the film Just Between Friends.
1986: Television Hall of Fame Induction
In 1986, Mary Tyler Moore was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
January 8, 1987: Sweet Sue Opens on Broadway
On January 8, 1987, Mary Tyler Moore starred in Sweet Sue, which opened at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.
1987: Lifetime Achievement Award
In 1987, Mary Tyler Moore received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy from the American Comedy Awards.
1988: MTM Enterprises Sold
In 1988, MTM Enterprises was sold to Television South, an ITV Franchise holder.
1988: Lincoln
In 1988, Mary Tyler Moore starred in the mini-series Lincoln, which brought her another Emmy nomination for playing Mary Todd Lincoln.
1992: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1992, Mary Tyler Moore's contributions to the television industry were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1993: Emmy Award for Stolen Babies
In 1993, Mary Tyler Moore won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Stolen Babies.
1995: After All Memoir Published
In 1995, Mary Tyler Moore published her first memoir, After All, in which she acknowledged being a recovering alcoholic.
1996: Appeared on Ellen
In 1996, Mary Tyler Moore appeared as herself on an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres sitcom Ellen.
1996: Flirting with Disaster
In 1996, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in the independent hit Flirting with Disaster.
2000: Mary and Rhoda Reunion
In 2000, Mary Tyler Moore reunited with Valerie Harper in Mary and Rhoda.
2001: Guest Appearance on The Ellen Show
In 2001, Mary Tyler Moore guest-starred on Ellen DeGeneres's The Ellen Show.
2001: Like Mother, Like Son
In 2001, Mary Tyler Moore starred in Like Mother, Like Son, playing convicted murderer Sante Kimes.
May 8, 2002: Statue Dedication in Minneapolis
On May 8, 2002, a statue of Mary Richards, Mary Tyler Moore's character in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, was dedicated in downtown Minneapolis.
2002: Frasier Breaks Emmy Record
In 2002, the NBC sitcom Frasier won its 30th Emmy, breaking The Mary Tyler Moore Show's record of 29 Emmys.
December 2003: Quits Rose's Dilemma
In December 2003, Mary Tyler Moore quit the Neil Simon play Rose's Dilemma after receiving a critical letter from Simon.
2003: The Gin Game
In 2003, Mary Tyler Moore starred in The Gin Game with Dick Van Dyke.
2004: Dick Van Dyke Show Reunion
In 2004, Mary Tyler Moore reunited with her Dick Van Dyke Show castmates for a reunion special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited.
2006: Guest Star on That '70s Show
In 2006, Mary Tyler Moore guest-starred on three episodes of the Fox sitcom That '70s Show as Christine St. George.
2007: "Forever Moore" research initiative created
In 2007, the JDRF created the "Forever Moore" research initiative in honor of Mary Tyler Moore's dedication to the Foundation. This program supports research and development of new treatments and technologies for type 1 diabetes.
March 22, 2009: Identified as Libertarian Centrist
In a Parade magazine article from March 22, 2009, Mary Tyler Moore identified herself as a libertarian centrist who watched Fox News.
2009: Growing Up Again Published
In 2009, Mary Tyler Moore published Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes, focusing on living with type 1 diabetes.
2011: Political Views
In 2011, Ed Asner stated that Mary Tyler Moore had become more conservative.
2011: Surgery to Remove Brain Tumor
In 2011, Mary Tyler Moore had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, a meningioma.
2011: Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2011, Mary Tyler Moore was awarded the Screen Actors Guild's lifetime achievement award.
2012: Ride of Fame Honor
In New York City in 2012, Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters were honored by the Ride of Fame, and a double-decker bus was dedicated to them and their charity work for "Broadway Barks".
2013: Interview on Pioneers of Television
In 2013, during an interview for the PBS series Pioneers of Television, Mary Tyler Moore discussed being recruited to join the feminist movement by Gloria Steinem and her differing views on women's roles.
2013: Hot in Cleveland Reunion
In the fall of 2013, Mary Tyler Moore reprised her role on Hot in Cleveland, reuniting with Betty White and former Mary Tyler Moore Show cast members.
2014: Health Problems Reported
In 2014, it was reported that Mary Tyler Moore was suffering from heart and kidney problems and was nearly blind due to complications related to diabetes.
2015: Statue Relocation
In late 2015, the Mary Richards statue was relocated to the city's visitor center during renovations.
January 25, 2017: Mary Tyler Moore Dies
On January 25, 2017, Mary Tyler Moore, known for her roles in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" died.
2017: Statue Reinstalled
In 2017, the Mary Richards statue was reinstalled in its original location in Minneapolis.
2023: Value of Hotpoint Earnings
In 1955, Mary Tyler Moore received approximately $6,000 for her Hotpoint commercials, which is equivalent to $55,000 in 2023.
