Trivia

That '70s Show (1998) was filmed on the same soundstage as The Mary Tyler Moore Show (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.

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

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) at age 33.

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

Was paired with Richard Chamberlain for "Holly Golightly" (1967), 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 disastrous show, producer David Merrick announced that he was closing the show one week prior to its scheduled Broadway opening, as he put it, "out of consideration for the audience.".

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

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

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

Received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award on January 29, 2012.

Her vision had declined because of her diabetes.

Underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor on May 12, 2011.

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

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

She testified before Congress in 2001 (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.

Was awarded "Golden Turkey Award" for "The Ecclesiastical Award for the Worst Performance by an Actor or Actress as a Clergyman or Nun" for her role in Change of Habit (1969). She said she was thrilled to get it.

On October 14, 1980, her son Richard Meeker Jr. died of an accidental gunshot to the head while handling a small .410 shotgun. The model was later removed from the market because of its hair trigger.

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 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's trademark deerstalker hat and pipe at the end of Remington Steele (1982).

Was a conservative libertarian and animal rights activist.

She won the Tony Award after taking over the lead in the play "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" (1980). 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 the Tony Award when her company, MTM, backed the revival of the play "Joe Egg" (1985).

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 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), Nanette Fabray played her mother.

Walked out of Neil Simon's play "Rose's Dilemma", citing problems with the playwright. Reportedly, he sent her an insulting note before 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. (December 2003)

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

Entered Betty Ford clinic for alcoholism. (September 1984)

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on September 8, 1992.

Was the second regular cast member of her own series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) to pass away after Ted Knight in 1986. Oddly, Moore was also the last regular who didn't pass away in the same year as another regular. Georgia Engel and Valerie Harper both died in 2019. Cloris Leachman, Gavin MacLeod, Ed Asner and Betty White (in that order) all died in 2021.

When Mary moved back to New York in 1980, she took with her the knitted beret she had gleefully tossed in the air during the opening of her sitcom, and 27 needlepoint pillows she had made on the set during breaks in rehearsals. All of these keepsakes were stolen from her storage locker in the apartment building she lived in at the time.

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

Was mentioned by name in Peanuts comic strip by Snoopy.

Her death was brought on by aspiration pneumonia, hypoxia, and diabetes mellitus.

Was a descendant of Confederate Lt. Col. Lewis T. Moore. While commanding the 4th Virginia Infantry, Moore offered his home in Winchester, Virginia, to be the headquarters for Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. From there, Jackson planned his Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1861-1862. In the 1960s, 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.

Was named as "Queen of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival. (1996)

She appeared in the Broadway play "Sweet Sue" (1988) with Lynn Redgrave and a fully nude Barry Tubb.

Her brother, John Hackett Moore, died of kidney cancer on December 26, 1991 at age 47.

She is mentioned in the song "Buddy Holly" by Weezer.

Wisconsin artist Gwendolyn Gillen, the creator of the bronze sculpture of Mary Tyler Moore, died on January 27, 2017, at age 76. Her passing in a Madison, Wisconsin, hospice happened just two days after Ms. Moore's death.

Following her death, was interred during a private ceremony at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield, Connecticut.

On March 20, 2001, she was celebrity sponsor of the Great American Meatout.

Born to George Tyler Moore (1913-2006), a utilities-company clerk, and the former Marjorie Hackett (1916-1992), no profession.

Along with Farah Fawcett, is mentioned by name by Sally Brown on 9-25-77 in the Sunday edition of the Peanuts comic strip. She was also referenced in a daily strip during 1977.

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

Ex-stepmother of John Tinker and Mark Tinker. John and his wife, Ronda Rich, eventually became very good friends with Mary and her widower, Robert Levine.

Smoked three packs of cigarettes a day until about 1985.

Dated Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Warren Beatty and Steve Martin between her second and third marriages.

Her publicist was Alla Plotkin.

Her best friend was Beverly Sanders.

Was a resident of Millbrook, NY, from 1987 to 2006.

When she wore a rather revealing dress on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) in 2003, she had obviously dressed to impress, but did not get any compliments from Jay Leno.