Classic TV Actress of the month: Mary Tyler Moore - Part 2

Here are notable facts about Mary. Info provided by IMBD.

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

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.

Left dancing for acting because it "lacked the spotlight," and she "really wanted to be a star."

Vegetarian.

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".

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

MTM's mascot is a cute orange-striped kitten named Mimsie.

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  every St. Elsewhere 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 and Sherlock Holmes' trademark deerstalker hat and pipe at the end of Remington Steele.

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

Received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award on January 29, 2012 in Los Angeles

Mary Tyler Moore is a descendant of Lt. Col. Lewis T. Moore. While Commanding the 4th Va. Infantry Moore offered his home in Winchester, Va. to be the headquarters for Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. From there Jackson planned his Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1861-1862. In the 1960's the house was purchased and converted into a museum and includes much of Stonewall Jackson's memorabilia. Mary Tyler Moore helped pay for the restoration, which is now a National Historic Landmark.