Classic TV Actress of the Month: Mary Tyler Moore (Part 3)

Continuing with my spotlight on this month's classic TV actress, Mary Tyler Moore. Here are some personal quotes by Mary over the years.

Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you're really strangers.

There is a dark side. I tend not to be as optimistic as Mary Richards. I have an anger in me that I carry from my childhood experiences -- I expect a lot of myself and I'm not too kind to myself.

Diabetes is an all-too-personal time bomb which can go off today, tomorrow, next year, or 10 years from now - a time bomb affecting millions like me and the children here today.

I'm not an actress who can create a character. I play me.

There are certain things about me that I will never tell to anyone because I am a very private person. But basically what you see is who I am. I'm independent, I do like to be liked, I do look for the good side of life and people. I'm positive, I'm disciplined, I like my life in order, and I'm neat as a pin. I love order and discipline. God, I sound like a Nazi don't I?

[about her pit bull Spanky]: He has, as with some dogs that have been written about, the ability to sense when things are off in their owners, their masters, whatever we're calling them in this day and age. He can tell when my blood sugar is dipping low.

[on throwing her hat in the air for the title shots for "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970)]: "It was a hat that my aunt had given me for Christmas, and I brought it with me because they said: 'Be sure and dress warm. It's going to be freezing in Minneapolis.' So - I forget which writer it was - but we were all outside, and he said: 'You know what would be good? If you take that hat, the beret, and throw it in the air.' "

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.

Classic TV Actress of the month: Mary Tyler Moore - Part 1

Mary Tyler Moore is my classic TV actress this month and I would argue to say that behind Lucille Ball, she has to be in the running for 2nd greatest and beloved of all TV actresses. At least in the top 3, as Elizabeth Montgomery would be in the mix too. Anyway, let's get on with some facts about the wonderful woman named Mary.

Born December 29th, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY (a Brooklyn girl!)
Married three times: Current husband is Ted Levine (1983 - present)
Second husband was Grant Tinker (1962 - 1982) 20 year marriage
First husband was Richard Meeker (1955 - 1962) which produced one child, son Richie in 1956.
Mary has one sister, Liz, who was born in 1956, 3 months before the birth of Richie.

Having fun on The Dick Van Dyke Show

After a few years with appearances on TV series such as Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Checkmate, and 77 Sunset Strip in the late 50's, Mary finally landed her first prime gig in the role as Laura Petrie, wife to Rob (played Dick Van Dyke). The show was a huge success running for 5 seasons and 158 episodes. Mary was 24 when she started on this series. It would pave way for an even bigger and more personal success for her a few years later.

Surrounded with some insane talent on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore show premiered in 1970 and this time Mary was front and center as the star. And she surrounded herself with one of the best ensembles in TV history. Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, Valarie Harper and later on Betty White. The show ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes winning tons of Emmys. Mary was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time.

Mary and Rhoda (Valarie Harper)

After that series wrapped, Mary appeared every now and then on other shows but never had the same type of success. So she shifted gears and when to the movies. She had a few films before back in the 60's most notably the Elvis Presley vehicle Change of Habit but it 1980's Ordinary People that proved to be her biggest hit. Directed by Robert Redford, the film won 4 Oscars including Best Film and gave Mary an Oscar nomination. It earned over $50 million back in 1980 which is a nice tidy sum.

During the rest of the 80's and 90's Mary appeared in TV movies and shows every now and then, keeping herself in the public eye. She recently appeared on the TV Land series, Hot In Cleveland, reuniting with former cast mate Betty White.

Mary Tyler Moore. Classic TV Actress for the month of June. I will be back with more postings about this wonderful woman.

ALL GOOD THINGS in June

I pick up the pace again as summer begins with Mary Tyler Moore being my classic actress for the month. This year I decided to concentrate on classic actresses who dominated the small screens and Mary definitely fits the bill. I will post pics, facts, and all other assorted goodies pertaining to the awesome Mary. My guest of the month will be my friend from Facebook, Melinda Kinnaird. And I also kick off my annual summer photo series called At The Beach/Summer Lovin', showing classic stars in photos under the sun and having fun. So please check in from time to time to see what's going on here at All Good Things.

The Greatest TV Comedies - Mary Tyler Moore (1970-1977)

Mary Tyler Moore created one of the most loved sitcoms of all time and one of the most iconic TV characters ever in Mary Richards. While Mary Tyler Moore was not her first sitcom, remember she co-starred with Dick Van Dyke for five years on The Dick Van Dyke Show, it turned out to be her best. Well in my opinion. This time she was single and very much a career woman. She leaves her town and heads to Minneapolis to get a job at the news station WJM. And surrounds herself with one of TV's best ensemble casts. There's Ed Asner as gruff Lou Grant, her boss. Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter the writer. Ted Knight as blowhard Ted Baxter, the anchorman. Betty White as the passive-aggressive Sue Ann Nivens. Who can imagine sweet Betty White as the sex-starved Sue! Well she works it and is funny as hell. There is also best friend Rhoda (Valerie Harper). It should be noted that most of these stars would headline their own series as well. In fact Ed Asner and Valerie Harper would spin their characters into their own series. But in Lou Grant's case, it became a drama, which still made for good TV. MacLeod ended up as captain on the Love Boat. Knight would star in the vastly underrated Too Close for Comfort. And of course Betty White would star in The Golden Girls.

Look at the happy cast!

But they all would gel on this classic series, Mary Tyler Moore, first. There was no grandstanding or showboating here folks. Everyone worked as part of a well oiled unit. Moore, who was funny enough to carry the show by herself, didn't have to. I think one of the main reasons this series was so successful was because of the sharp writing. And the characters themselves who were fully developed and not caricatures. I mean this show won tons of Emmys and that's no accident. Let's see...Mary won, as did Asner, Harper, Knight, and White. As did Cloris Leachman who played perky landlady Phyllis for a few seasons before getting her own sitcom as well. I mean the talent involved on this series was crazy insane! Head writer/executive producer James L. Brooks led the way. Along with writer Allan Burns and director Jay Sandrich. All would have long successful careers in television.

Mary and Rhoda just hanging out on a Saturday afternoon

Back to the show, which logged 168 episodes over it's seven year run. I can't recall too many flat episodes. Most of them were hysterically funny. If you mention Chuckles the funeral, I'm sure most people will know what you're talking about. Mary has a hard time trying not to laugh at Chuckles funeral and it's one of the most iconic moments in TV history. When a series runs this long, you know that there is something going on. Great chemistry and performances coupled with excellent writing and direction makes this one of TV's greatest sitcoms of all time.

The one and only Mary Tyler Moore

Facts and trivia:


Won Emmys as Outstanding comedy series for three consecutive years (1975-1977).


Mary picked up three Emmys herself during the series seven year run (1973, 1974, 1976)


Betty White and Cloris Leachman both picked up two Emmys each during their stints.

Look at all those Emmys

Mary's house, which appears in the opening credits, is still standing in Minneapolis, Minnesota - the city in which the show takes place. 
  
When casting the part of Sue-Anne Nivens, producers were stumped for an actress to take the role. They wanted "someone like Betty White". Eventually, someone asked "Why not cast Betty White?"

This program has the most Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - 5. 

Mary and Ted

Spin-off series:
Lou Grant (1977-1982, 114 episodes)
Rhoda (1974-1978, 110 episodes)
Phyllis (1975-1977, 48 episodes)

And that's a wrap!