Mary Tyler Moore

First TV appearance was in 1955 as "Happy Hotpoint" the Hotpoint Appliance elf, in commercials aired during the "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952) TV show.

Her sister, Liz, was born 3 months earlier than her own son. Elizabeth was born March 20, 1956, and Richie was born July 3; both in Los Angeles at Queen of Angels Hospital.

Mary Tyler Moore portrayed the first Sam, who was in charge of the answering service on CBS Television's "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957). Only her voice and her legs were known to the viewer.

Was paired with Richard Chamberlain in 1967 for "Holly Golightly," a musical adaptation of Truman Capote's earlier novel (and film), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). When it became obvious during pre-Broadway tryouts that no amount of play-doctoring was going to save a potentially disasterous show, producer David Merrick announced that he was closing the show one week prior to it's scheduled Broadway opening, as he put it, "out of consideration for the audience."

In an interview, she stated that her famous "Oh, Rob!" as "Laura Petrie" on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) was based on the acting style of Nanette Fabray. On "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970), Nanette Fabray played her mother.

Told David Letterman that her (and others') nickname for Dick Van Dyke when they did the "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) together was Penis Von Lesbian, a play on his real name.

Best remembered by the public for her starring role as "Laura Petrie" on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) and for starring in "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970).

Her favorite episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) is "My Blonde-Haired Brunette".

Was a heavy smoker during the time "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) was in production. Has since quit. She was trying to quit smoking during filming directed by Carl Reiner when she discovered that she was going to be off-screen for the majority of the episode.

Kent cigarettes was one of the sponsors of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) and would regularly hand out free cartons of Kents to the cast and crew. During an interview with David Letterman, Mary confessed that she didn't like Kents, so she'd always take her share of the cartons and trade them in at the local store for her preferred brand.

Founded MTM Enterprises in 1969 with ex-husband Grant Tinker. Sold the company in 1990.

Bronze statue capturing her character Mary's signature hat-toss went on display May 8, 2002 at the Minneapolis intersection where the scene for "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) was originally filmed. On hand for the ceremony, Moore tossed her tam, but this time, into an appreciative downtown crowd.

Though Moore would become inseparable from Edward Asner's character Lou Grant on the TV sitcom "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970), both actors first co-starred in Elvis Presley's final feature Change of Habit (1969).

Her sister, Elizabeth, died in 1978 at age 21. Her death was ruled a suicide by drug overdose.

Son Richie's death in 1980 considered accidental, not suicide (hair trigger on gun went off - gun later removed from market for same reason).

She won Tony Awards in 1980 and in 1985. She won in 1980 after taking over the lead in the play "Whose Life Is It Anyway?". She was so good that she was given a special Tony because she was not eligible for a traditional nomination due to being a replacement performer. She won in 1985 when her company, MTM, backed the revival of the play "Joe Egg".

The kitten that was the mascot for Mary's company, MTM Enterprises, would meow at the end of all MTM shows. In addition, it would even "wear costumes" reflecting the theme of the MTM show: At the end of each "St. Elsewhere" (1982) episode, the kitty is seen wearing a surgical mask and it had a policeman's hat tilted on its head at the end of "Hill Street Blues" (1981) and Sherlock Holmes' trademark deerstalker hat and pipe at the end of "Remington Steele" (1982).

Entered Betty Ford clinic for "Social Drinking Habit". [1984]

Appeared in the Broadway play "Sweet Sue" in 1988 with Lynn Redgrave and a fully nude Barry Tubb.

Attended WWE Wrestlemania 6 held in Canada in 1990.

Her brother, John, died on December 26, 1991, in Los Angeles at age 47.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992.

Was named as "Queen of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival in 1996

"That '70s Show" (1998) was filmed on the same soundstage as "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) was in the 1970s. When she played Christine St. George on "That '70s Show", she arrived for her first day's filming to find a huge WELCOME BACK MARY! banner waiting for her.

Broke a bone in her wrist while filming Mary and Rhoda (2000) (TV).

She recently testified before Congress (along with actors Kevin Kline and Jonathan Lipnicki and former astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13) calling for an increase in funding for diabetes research and support embryonic stem cell research, which she called "truly life affirming." Also present in the hearing room were about 200 children with diabetes and their families, who were in town for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Children's Congress 2001. [2001]

Walked out of the Neil Simon play "Rose's Dilemma" in December, 2003, citing problems with the playwright. Reportedly he sent her an insulting note prior to an appearance regarding her failure to memorize lines. The problem was that he had kept rewriting her lines and expected her to learn them on the spot. She was replaced by actress Patricia Hodges, but the play closed two months later to poor reviews.

Broke her kneecap after tripping over her adopted dog, Spanky [June 2, 2008].

Will undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor [May 12, 2011].

Will receive the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award on January 29, 2012 in Los Angeles [September 8, 2011].