Television icon Mary Tyler Moore dies aged 80 after 'being on a respirator for more than a week at a Connecticut hospital'

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Television icon Mary Tyler Moore passed away this afternoon at the age of 80.

The Emmy award-winning actress died Wednesday surrounded by family members who quickly flocked to say their goodbyes at a Connecticut hospital. 

Her publicist, Mara Buxbaum,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. 

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

'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.'

Moore, whose comic realism helped revolutionize the depiction of women on the small screen, was reported to be in 'grave condition' at the undisclosed hospital, TMZ first reported.

Her famed co-star Dick Van Dyke said: 'There are no words.She was THE BEST! We always said that we changed each other's lives for the better.' 

Oprah Winfrey also led the celebrity tributes, saying she will 'love her forever' as she remembered her heroine, who moved her to tears when they met on her show in 1997.

Moved to tears: Oprah said she will love her heroine 'forever' in a moving tribute

Speechless: Oprah could not believe it when she came face to face with her icon

She tweeted: 'Even now looking at this picture I want to cry.

'I still can't believe Mary Tyler Moore touched my face. Will love her 4 ever.'

And in a separate message posted on Instagram, she said: 'Dear Mary, You already know how you majorly influenced my life and career.

'I respected and admired your business acumen, your passion and compassion for all life, and most importantly, the values espoused through your storytelling.

'Thank you for being a Light that shined so brightly, it let me see myself in you.'

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 longtime actress, who gained fame in the 1960s as the frazzled wife Laura Petrie on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show', had been on a respirator for more than a week, TMZ reported.  

Moore suffered from a number of health problems and her condition 'had become critical' recently.

The actress, who won seven Emmy awards over the years and was nominated for an Oscar for her 1980 portrayal of an affluent mother whose son is accidentally killed in 'Ordinary People,' had a long battle with diabetes.

She was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1966 at the age of 33, which is the same year of the last season she played Laura Petrie on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'. 

The New York native went on to play the groundbreaking role as Mary Richards on 'The Mary Tyler Moore' show from 1970 to 197, where she portrayed a single career woman working in a Minneapolis TV newsroom.

Moore truly made her mark on the series which aired at a time when women's liberation was catching on worldwide. 

The Emmy award-winning actress died surrounded by family members who quickly flocked to say their goodbyes at a Connecticut hospital

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

Her character brought TV audiences an independent, 1970s career woman. Other than Marlo Thomas' 1960s sitcom character 'That Girl,' who at least had a steady boyfriend, there were few precedents. 

Mary Richards was comfortable being single in her 30s, and while she dated, she wasn't desperate to get married. 

She sparred affectionately with her gruff boss, Lou Grant, played by Ed Asner and addressed always as 'Mr. Grant.' 

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 in 1961

And millions agreed with the show's theme song that she could 'turn the world on with her smile.'

The show was filled with laughs. But no episode was more memorable than the bittersweet finale when new management fired the entire WJM News staff - everyone but the preening, clueless anchorman, Ted Baxter. 

Thus did the series dare to question whether Mary Richards actually did 'make it after all.'

The series ran seven seasons and won 29 Emmys, a record that stood for a quarter century until 'Frasier' broke it in 2002.

The series ran seven seasons and won 29 Emmys, a record that stood for a quarter century until 'Frasier' broke it in 2002.

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 Mary Tyler Moore Show' spawned the spin-offs 'Rhoda,' (1974-78), starring Valerie Harper; 'Phyllis' (1975-77), starring Cloris Leachman; and 'Lou Grant' (1977-82), starring Asner in a rare drama spun off from a comedy. 

Moore was born in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York on December 29, 1936 as the oldest child of three children. 

Her family eventually moved to Queens before moving to sunny Los Angeles when she was eight-years-old. 

At the age of 17, Moore decided to embark on a career as a dancer and first appeared on television as a tiny elf dancing on Hotpoint appliance commercials in the 1950s. 

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 regular TV role was playing a telephone receptionist on  Richard Diamond, Private Detective'.

Moore's acting career quickly took off, as she appeared in several television shows and movies, including Bourbon Street Beat, 77 Sunset Strip, Surfside Six, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Steve Canyon, Hawaiian Eye, Thriller and Lock-Up.  

But when she was cast on 'The Dick Van Dyke' show where she gained even more fame in the 1960s playing Laura Petrie, the frazzled, homemaker wife of Van Dyke's character, comedy writer Rob Petrie, from 1961-66.

'She was an impressive person and a talented person and a beautiful person. A force of nature,' said producer, creator and director Carl Reiner, who created the 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' told The Associated Press. 

'She'll last forever, as long as there's television. Year after year, we'll see her face in front of us.' 

With her unerring gift for comedy, Moore seemed perfectly fashioned to the smarter wit of the new, post-Eisenhower age. As Laura, she traded in the housedress of countless sitcom wives for Capri pants that were as fashionable as they were suited to a modern American woman.

Laura was a dream wife and mother, but not perfect. Viewers identified with her flustered moments and her protracted, plaintive cry to her husband: 'Ohhhh, Robbbb!'

Moore's chemistry with Van Dyke was unmistakable. Decades later, he spoke warmly of the chaste but palpable off-screen crush they shared during the show's run.

They also appeared together in several TV specials over the years and in 2003, co-starred in a PBS production of the play 'The Gin Game.'

On the big screen, Moore's appearances were less frequent. She was a 1920s flapper in the hit 1967 musical 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' and a nun who falls for Elvis Presley in 'Change of Habit' in 1969.

She turned to serious drama in 1980's 'Ordinary People,' playing an affluent, bitter mother who loses a son in an accident. 

The film won the Oscar for best picture and best director for Robert Redford, and it earned Moore an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe.

'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,' Timothy Hutton, her 'Ordinary People' co-star, said in a statement. 

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

In her lifetime, Moore was married a total of three times. She first married Richard Carleton Meeker at age 18 in 1955, and within six weeks of their marriage she was pregnant. 

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

Her only child, Richard Jr., was born on July 3, 1956, but he died of an accidental gunshot to the head while handling a sawed off shotgun in 1980.

Moore divorced her first husband in 1961 and went on the next year to marry Grant Tinker who was a CBS executive who later served as the chairman of NBC. 

Her marriage to Tinker lasted from 1962 to 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. 

The next year after marrying Levine, she spent five weeks at the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol abuse. 

In her 1995 autobiography 'After All,' Moore admitted she helped her terminally ill brother try to commit suicide by feeding him ice cream laced with a deadly overdose of drugs. 

The attempt failed, and her 47-year-old brother, John, died three months later in 1992 of kidney cancer.

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

Moore told of her struggle with diabetes in her 2009 book, 'Growing Up Again.' She served as chairwoman of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, supported embryonic stem cell research and was active in animal rights causes. 

In 2004, she told the Chicago Tribune that she underwent several laser surgeries to help treat her deteriorating vision, as she considered the 'splotchiness and dimming' in her eyes as a problem. 

The actress underwent brain surgery in 2011 to remove a benign brain tumor.

She recently celebrated her 80th birthday on December 29. 

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

After news of her hospitalization first broke, fans and celebrities took to social media to offer their prayers to the television icon. 

Andy Cohen, host of Bravo's nightly series Watch What Happens and a longtime fan of Moore's took to Twitter and wrote: 'PRAYING FOR MARY!!!!!!!!'

Cohen and other celebrities took to Twitter hours later to offer their condolences to the icon.

'RIP beautiful, upbeat, shining, glorious, wonderful, iconic Mary Tyler Moore.', Cohen wrote. 

In a third tweet about the legend, Cohen wrote: 'LOVE IS ALL AROUND RIP MARY'.

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.'  

'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. Her famed co-star Dick Van Dyke said: 'There are no words.She was THE BEST! We always said that we changed each other's lives for the better.'

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.'

'The best': Dick Van Dyke summed it up succinctly in his tweeted tribute

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.'