Mary Tyler Moore died on Wednesday after being hospitalised in Connecticut. She was 80.
Issuing a statement to People, Mary’s longtime representative confirmed the tragic 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.”
The cause of Mary’s death is yet to be announced publicly however, as a Type 1 diabetic, she had long suffered a variety of health problems.
Mary went on to publish a memoir on the subject, entitled, Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes.
And in 2012, speaking with The New York Times Mary revealed: “I do have problems with my eyes, one eye in particular, and if I fall, I generally break a bone.”
The Oscar-nominated actress was perhaps best known for her role in the hit television sitcom, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” which aired in the 1970s.
Her portrayal of protagonist Mary Richards was one of the first ever shows to feature a single, 30-year-old, working woman as its central character.
The show – which covered topics as groundbreaking as the contraceptive pill and equal pay for equal work – is said to have inspired a generation of women everywhere to break away from established order.
In his autobiography, director of the The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Alan Rafkin, spoke of his time with his dear friend, Mary.
He said, “First and foremost Mary was a businesswoman and she ran her series beautifully.”
“She was the boss, and although you weren’t always wedded to doing things exactly her way, you never forgot for a second that she was in charge.”
She was said to turn “the world on with her smile.”
A still from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Mary originally rose to fame when she starred as Laura Petrie on the 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show.
And while she may have been best known for her television work, Mary also starred in films alongside iconic co-stars such as George Peppard and Robert Wagner. She even played the part of a nun opposite Elvis Presley in his last film, Change of Habit, in 1969.
Her role in the 1980 film Ordinary People, directed by Robert Redford, saw her receive an Academy Award nomination for best actress.
Mary earned a total of six Emmy Awards during her epic career – four of which were for The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Another, her first, was garnered for her breakthrough role on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and she received her last in 1993, for the television movie Stolen Babies.
The legendary actress in 1978.
In addition to her legendary career in film and television, Mary was also known for her charity work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which she carried out alongside her duties as a longtime animal rights activist.
Mary shared her home with her husband of over 33 years, Dr. Robert Levine, and their four dogs. She lived in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Tragically, the iconic actress was preceded in death by her son, Richard, in 1980.
Our thoughts are with Mary’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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