Mary Tyler Moore, acclaimed comedienne who revolutionised the role of TV housewives, dies aged 80

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Mary Tyler Moore, the comedy actress who revolutionised the role of television housewives, died yesterday aged 80.

The acclaimed comedienne captured the hearts of millions of viewers in the 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show and the eponymous The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s.

Moore emerged on screen at a time when actresses were traditionally cast as housewives – but with her fashionable trousers and Jackie Kennedy-style hair, she became heralded by Time Magazine as one of women who ‘changed television’ for ever.

The American actress fought a long battle with illness, having being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes aged 33 in 1966, the same year of the last season in which she played Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Tragic: Television icon Mary Tyler Moore has died aged 80. She was first reported to be in 'grave condition' at a hospital in Connecticut on Wednesday. She is pictured above in 2013

Moore suffered from a number of health problems and her condition 'had become critical' recently. She is pictured above in the iconic opening scene of her 'The Mary Tyler Moore' show

The Emmy award-winning actress died surrounded by family members who quickly flocked to say their goodbyes at a Connecticut hospital. She is pictured left in 2008 and right in 1970

She went on to play the groundbreaking role of Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore show from 1970 to 1977, where she portrayed a single career woman working in a Minneapolis TV newsroom determined to make a success of herself. 

It won 29 Emmys, a record that stood for a quarter century until Frasier broke it in 2002.

The actress died in a Connecticut hospital in the company of friends and her third husband, Robert Levine, her publicist Mara Buxbaum announced, adding: ‘Mary will be remembered as a fearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile.’

Stars were quick to pay tribute, including veteran talk show host Larry King who tweeted: ‘Mary Tyler Moore was a dear friend and a truly great person. A fighter. Rest in peace, MTM.’ 

George Takei, who played Mr Sulu in Star Trek, called her a ‘role model’.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Moore moved to Los Angeles when she was eight years old and started her career in showbusiness as a dancer aged 17. 

Before her death, TMZ reported that her condition was 'so grim'. She is pictured above left in 2012 and right during her show in 1970

The actress, who is well known for her role on ' The Dick Van Dyke Show', had a long battle with diabetes after being diagnosed with disease at age 33. She is pictured above with Dick Van Dyke on the programme

The Tony Award-winning star openly discussed her fight against the disease. She is pictured above in 1961 on set of 'Washington vs. The Bunny'

The icon won a total of seven Emmy awards over her illustrious career. She is pictured above in 1964 with Van Dyke after they both won Emmy's

Moore, who had been married three times, also underwent brain surgery in 2011 to remove a benign brain tumor. She is pictured above in a scene from her show in 1970

Her first TV job came when she played an elf in a 1955 Hotpoint advert.

That same year, the aspiring actress married 27-year-old Dick Meeker, a cranberry products salesman. 

For Moore, the marriage was a ticket out of an unhappy household where she had a devoutly Catholic father, an alcoholic mother and a neighbour who sexually abused her when she was young.

In 1961 Moore’s career began to take off as she landed the role of Laura Petrie, the suburban New York wife. 

She was only 23, but the chemistry with Van Dyke made her millions of fans who loved their humorous portrayal of a married couple.

After that show ended, in 1967 Moore played opposite Julie Andrews in the film musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. 

Then came the Mary Tyler Moore Show, which began in September 1970 and earned Moore five Emmy awards over its seven-year run.

It was described as being ‘revolutionary’ in the way that women were portrayed on the small screen. 

Mary Richards was a single woman who was not divorced or widowed, but ‘determined to make it on her own’.

While onscreen she had found a way to play the happy housewife and mother, in real life she was stalked by tragedy and persistent health problems.

The Tony Award-winning star was open about her fight against diabetes. She had several laser surgeries to help treat her deteriorating vision, and also had brain surgery in 2011 to remove a benign tumour.

She outlived her only child, a son called Richard from her first marriage, who died aged 24 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

After her early marriage to Meeker ended in 1961, she married NBC programmer Grant Tinker, but later said he was more a father figure than a husband.

In 1978, the actress’s 21-year-old sister died from an overdose of drugs and alcohol.

In 1980 she earned rave reviews and a best actress Oscar nomination for Ordinary People, directed by Robert Redford, in which she played a cold mother coping with an unhappy family. 

Redford said the performance had allowed her to show her ‘dark side’.

In 1983 she married Robert Levine, a cardiologist 18 years her junior. Battling what she called ‘a social drinking habit’, she checked into a Betty Ford clinic in 1984.

Despite the challenges, she threw her energies into supporting animal rights, and was a long-time vegetarian. 

In 1995 Moore revealed that cosmetic surgery helped her cope with life, saying: ‘I like to think of (the surgery) as staying fit. And if it can keep my face up where it belongs, then I will go to a doctor and get his assistance.’

She declared in 1997 that it was a ‘great feeling’ that her shows had been so revered, adding: ‘I have no children now, but I know I touched lives in a very strong way, both comedically and aesthetically.’

When she found herself unable to sleep, she would sometimes watch old episodes of her own shows, saying: ‘They have a lesson, small ones and happy ones. They give you hope that there’s a better future.’

The legend broke into Hollywood first as a dancer and appeared in several commericals before she landed roles on TV. She is pictured above in 1953 for her sophomore year photo at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles

Her only child, Richard Meeker Jr., whom she had with her first husband, Dick Meeker, died of an accidental gunshot to the head while handling a sawed off shotgun in 1980. The mother and son are pictured in 1968

In 1962, Moore married Grant Tinker, who was a CBS executive who later served as the chairman of NBC. They are pictured together above in 1966

Her marriage to Tinker lasted until 1981, as they produced 'The Mary Tyler Moore' show and a number of other popular shows together through their television production company MTM Enterprises

In 1983, Moore married cardiologist Robert Levine, who survives her. They are pictured above together in 2008

Last night tributes from celebrity fans flooded in, with some praising her role in changing the portrayal of women on screen.

Timothy Hutton, her co-star in Ordinary People, said: ‘I am deeply saddened by the news of Mary’s passing. 

'She was a truly amazing person, a great friend, and an inspiration to all.

‘I will always be grateful for her kindness and thankful beyond words for knowing her. She will be missed greatly.’

TV host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: ‘Mary Tyler Moore changed the world for all women. I send my love to her family.’ 

Fellow actor Ben Stiller wrote: ‘I loved Mary Tyler Moore on so many levels it was confusing. 

'Such a huge part of our culture and consciousness. Sending love to her family.’

Film director Kevin Smith praised her campaign work, tweeting: ‘TV [and] film star, tireless defender of animals, and scourge of diabetes. Truly she turned the world on with her smile.’

And Matt Sharp, founding member of rock band Weezer, who mentioned the actress in their hit song Buddy Holly, tweeted: ‘Never met her, but Mary Tyler Moore sent each one of us a signed pic at Buddy Holly’s peak. It was as sweet as it was surreal.’

In 2012, Dick Van Dyke said working with the ‘beautiful, bright and talented’ Moore was ‘an effortless piece of cake’.

'A dear friend and a truly great person': Larry King leads tributes to Mary Tyler Moore after TV icon dies at 80 

Stars were quick to react to the passing of the Hollywood icon. Longtime friend Larry King tweeted: '#MaryTylerMoore was a dear friend and a truly great person. A fighter. Rest in peace, MTM.'

Andy Cohen of Watch What Happens Live added: 'RIP beautiful, upbeat, shining, glorious, wonderful, iconic Mary Tyler Moore.'

And Star Trek star George Takei said: 'She turned the world on with her smile.'

Michelle Rodriguez shared a photo of the star from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. The actress said, 'RIP to another legend.'

Pal: Longtime friend Larry King tweeted: '#MaryTylerMoore was a dear friend and a truly great person. A fighter. Rest in peace, MTM'

Fan: Andy Cohen of Watch What Happens Live added: 'RIP beautiful, upbeat, shining, glorious, wonderful, iconic Mary Tyler Moore'

Out of this world: And Star Trek star George Takei said: 'She turned the world on with her smile'

 Selma Blair said: 'What an angel. Always was and will be. A great part of my childhood and so many people's lives.'

Sandra Bernhard added: 'You're going to make it after all oh no please tell me it's not true.' 

Her rep said in a statement, 'Today, beloved icon, Mary Tyler Moore, passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine.

'A groundbreaking actress, producer, and passionate advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as a fearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile.'

Another legend: Michelle Rodriguez shared a photo of the star from the Mary Tyler Moore Show

She already misses her: Selma Blair said: 'What an angel. Always was and will be. A great part of my childhood and so many people's lives'

Sad: Sandra Bernhard added: 'You're going to make it after all oh no please tell me it's not true'

Moore passed away at a Connecticut hospital with family members by her side.

She was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 33, early on during the run of her TV series, but the condition took a serious toll on her health in later years.

 Moore had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 2011 and three years later it was reported that she was suffering from heart and kidney problems.

She was also said to be almost blind. 

The beauty made her first big mark in the 1960s with The Dick Van Dyke Show. 

British actor Stephen Fry was rehearsing his new sitcom The Great Outdoors on stage 2 at CBS Studios in Los Angeles when news of the legend's passing broke.

British actor Stephen Fry paid tribute via Twitter as he was rehearsing his new sitcom The Great Outdoors on stage 2 at CBS Studios in Los Angeles where TMTM Show was filmed

Wilmer Valderrama recalled the 'honor' of having Moore appear as a guest star on three episodes of the hit sitcom That '70s Show in 2006

Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart called her 'an amazing role model for all women!' in a touching Instagram post

He tweeted out a photo of the plaque that memorializes the sound stage as the place where The Mary Tyler Moore Show was shot. 

'A minute's silence as we remembered 1 of the true greats of TV comedy,' he wrote.

Back in 2006, Moore had a guest star role in three episodes of hit sitcom That '70s Show.

Castmember Wilmer Valderrama paid tribute to the actress, tweeting: 'It was my honor to have met you .. & working with you when you graced us on That '70s Show a memory I will carry forever.'

Dick Cavett told CNN I can't think of anyone else in show business that everybody who worked with liked and believe me, that's a big thing.'

Moore appeared on The Dick Cavett Show several times and he said she was as charming off stage as she was on it.

'She could do anything,' he added. 'She was just one of the best and could somehow just magically turn off the funny Mary so as not to mar a serious film like she did in Ordinary People with Robert Redford.'