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

By Heidi Parker And Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:00 EST, 25 January 2017 | Updated: 16:03 EST, 25 January 2017

Mary Tyler Moore died on Wednesday after battling Type I diabetes for nearly 50 years.

The iconic actress - best known for her 1970s sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show - was 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.'

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A wonderful life: Mary Tyler Moore died on Wednesday at age 80 and stars were quick to react to the passing of the Hollywood icon

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

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

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.

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.'

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

Michael Keaton spoke of his sadness at Moore's passing describing her as 'iconic' and 'a friend'

Keaton starred with her on the short-lived The Mary Tyler Moore Hour in 1979

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.'

Moore celebrated the unveiling in 2002 of a statue recreating her hat tossing moment from the opening credits of her hugely popular show at a Minneapolis mall

Comedienne and chat show host Ellen DeGeneres paid her condolences too, saying: 'Mary Tyler Moore changed the world for all women'

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.'

Her early years: The star with Dick Van Dyke for The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1961

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. 

Actor Ben Stiller also chimed in tweeting: 'Such a huge part of our culture and consciousness. Sending love to her family'

Former Today host Katie Couric said she was devastated at the news of Moore's death

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

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.'

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.' 

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

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'

Hollywood star Mia Farrow expressed her sorrow on Twitter calling Moore 'wonderful' and 'pioneering'

 

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