I am heartsick today.  As I shared on Facebook earlier today, Mary Tyler Moore was my first female TV idol. I still want to be her when I grow up. I adored her & her spunk, even though I hate spunk just like Mr. Grant did. The world has a little less love all around today with her passing.

Mary Tyler Moore’s spunky counterpart, Mary Richards (original source known)

Whether she was acting on stage (“Whose Life Is It, Anyway”,  “Noises Off”), opposite Elvis Presley (“Change of Habit”) , Donald Sutherland (“Ordinary People”), Ted Danson (“Just Between Friends”) or the incredible casts of two ground-breaking shows (“The Dick Van Dyke Show” & “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), Moore shined with her superior acting skills & her impeccable comedic timing.  Despite being the star and producer of her own show, she never let her ego dictate her decisions.  She was smart enough & secure enough in her own talents to surround herself with the best actors, writers and directors in the industry.

And her show’s theme song?  I love music, and a lot of TV shows had (and have) great theme songs.  Hers was one of the first ones that I adored and sang along with.  It also celebrated the character and the star of the show perfectly.

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards-and that lovely, happy smile (original source unknown).

I first started watching her show when it followed the NBC incarnation of “Late Night With David Letterman”.  Her, Lou, Mur, Rhoda, Ted, Phyllis, Sue Ann & Georgette kept me company overnight (you can read more about that here).  She was the best friend every woman wanted to have.

Moore changed the landscape of TV for women everywhere as she was all the things to all women:  Fashion icon, comedienne, actress, friend, co-worker, confidant and more (no pun intended).  Behind the scenes she was co-owner of one of the biggest and most profitable production companies of all time, MTM Enterprises.  It not only produced her show but other ground breaking ones as well like “The Bob Newhart Show”, “Rhoda”, “Phyllis”, “WKRP In Cincinnati” (swoon), “Lou Grant”, “The White Shadow”, “Hill Street Blues” (swoon x 2), “St Elsewhere” (swoon x 3) and many others.

The cast of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970 (left) and circa 1975 (r)

(original sources unknown).

She was also an animal activist, one of the first celebrities to publicly seek treatment for an addiction (she went to the Betty Ford Clinic for alcoholism), wrote books, brought so much awareness (and raised countless funds) for Type 1 Diabetes due to her own struggle with the disease along with her many other charitable endeavors.

Moore saw her share of heartaches (the deaths of her only son and her brother), but through whatever trial she was facing her smile, fighting spirit and love for life never waned.

 Country Living Magazine posted this on Instagram today (original source unknown). 

How will we make it on our own???   😦   Sigh

Tossing that beret in the air is how I will always remember her.  I hope she throws it to Ted when she sees him.

Rest in peace, sweet Mary.  Thank you for giving women everywhere a new road to call our own.

That famous beret toss from the beginning of her iconic show (original source unknown).