Classic TV Actress of the Month: Marlo Thomas (Part 1)

Marlo Thomas is one of the most iconic TV stars of all time. I mean everyone remembers That Girl. Marlo was cast as Ann Marie, a struggling actress trying to make it in New York, juggle family and a boyfriend. She led the wave of strong and independent women later followed by Mary Tyler Moore. This month will be all about Marlo. And I start with some notable facts about her.

Born Margaret Julia Thomas on November 21, 1937 in Deerfield , Michigan.

Father is Danny Thomas (Make Room For Daddy)

Married to Phil Donahue since 1980

Attended Beverly Hills High School

She is of Lebanese and Italian origins. Her father is Lebanese and her mother is Italian. Her mother's maiden name was Rose Marie Cassaniti.

Godmother is Loretta Young

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital national outreach director.

She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Has wrote several books including The Rights Words at the Right Time (2002), Free To Be...You and Me (2008) and her memoir, Growing Up Laughing in 2010.

ALL GOOD THINGS in JULY

Just a quick word about the things I have planned for my blog next month. First up, the classic TV actress will be That Girl herself, Marlo Thomas. Expect photos, facts, and anything and everything about the wonderful Marlo. My guest for the month will be my friend and blogger of Comet Over Hollywood and ace reporter at The Shelby Star, Jessica Noelle Pickens. And over on my FB page, where me and Desiree share this movie pick of the day event with a chosen star of the week, some of the stars we shall be doing shall include birthday gal Olivia de Havilland and William Holden. So please join me at either place for some good old classic fun.

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.

CLASSIC MOVIE GODDESSES in 2013...with a twist

Here is my schedule for the goddesses I will be featuring next year. The twist, you might ask? Well this time I am focusing on some of the best known TV actresses of yesteryear. Most of the actresses I chose did make feature films during their career too and some were extremely successful. But they achieved even greater success in TV. And most of their fans know them immediately once you say their name or sing their theme song or say a certain catchphrase. So here are the 11 women I will be featuring next year, one a month. There will be no Classic TV Goddess for the month of March (my annual favorite classic movie actress tourney takes place then). Here is the list below which may change if I decide to move the actresses around a bit, but these are definitely the eleven (ummm 13) I will be talking about. I will rotate every year between film and TV goddesses if this goes well.

Here's LUCY

JANUARY - LUCILLE BALL (had to kick things off with Lucy)
FEBRUARY - FLORENCE HENDERSON/BARBARA BILLINGSLEY (two for one)
APRIL - PATTY DUKE
MAY - NICHELLE NICHOLS/YVONNE CRAIG (Some sci-fi/comic book love)
JUNE - MARY TYLER MOORE
JULY - MARLO THOMAS
AUGUST - BARBARA EDEN
SEPTEMBER - ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY
OCTOBER - CAROLYN JONES
NOVEMBER - DIANA RIGG
DECEMBER - GRACIE ALLEN

Expect other notable TV actresses to pop up in the coming years such as:
DIAHANN CARROLL
SALLY FIELD (she did get her start on Gidget and The Flying Nun after all)
STEFANIE POWERS
TUESDAY WELD
SUZANNE PLESHETTE
LINDA EVANS
ELINOR DONAHUE
AUDREY MEADOWS

and many many more!