'She was a pioneer on television and will be so missed': Carol Burnett leads tributes to Mary Tyler Moore after TV icon dies at 80

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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.

Carol Burnett, 83, whose own titular show was part of the CBS Saturday night line-up in the 1970s, said in a statement that Moore 'will be so missed.'

'She was a pioneer on television and also one of the sweetest, nicest people I ever knew,' Burnett said.

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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'

Television pioneer: Carol Burnett, 83, whose own titular show was part of the CBS Saturday night line-up along with Moore's in the 1970s, said in a statement the actress 'will be so missed'

Her famed co-star Dick Van Dyke summed it up succinctly, saying: '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.' 

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. 

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.'

Ed Asner, 87, who starred alongside her as Lou Grant, tweeted: '#marytylermoore my heart goes out to you and your family. Know that I love you and believe in your strength.'  

Her TV boss: Ed Asner and Moore were one of the most iconic co-stars in television history with the actor's character Lou Grant providing the perfect foil for Moore's feisty character

Asner, 83, sent out a pair of heartfelt tweets on hearing of her passing Wednesday

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

A little while later, he tweeted again, saying: 'A great lady I loved and owe so much to has left us. I will miss her.'

Asner added: 'I will never be able to repay her for the blessings that she gave me.' 

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.

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'

Bette Midler, like Moore a fierce and funny performer, mourned the loss of 'one of the groundbreaking stars of Television'

Ellen DeGeneres, who like many female stars benefited from the trail blazed by Moore in the sixties and seventies, paid her respects.

'Mary Tyler Moore changed the world for all women,' the chat show host and comedienne tweeted. 

Bette Midler, like Moore a fierce and funny performer, mourned the loss of 'one of the groundbreaking stars of Television.'  

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.'

In a statement to Variety, Redford himself said: 'Mary’s energy, spirit and talent created a new bright spot in the television landscape and she will be very much missed. The courage she displayed in taking on a role, (Ordinary People), darker than anything she had ever done, was brave and enormously powerful.' 

Moore received her an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the 1980 movie directed by Redford and co-starring Donald Sutherland and Timothy Hutton. 

Moore earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the Robert Redford-directed film Ordinary People in which she played the bitter mother of guilt-ridden Timothy Hutton

Donald Sutherland, who played her husband in the 1980 gut-wrenching drama, said in a statement that Moore 'was perfect'

Donald Sutherland, who played Moore's husband in the film, also put out a statement. 

'Mary was and is and now always will be, perfect,' the Canadian actor said, according to EW.com.

'She was the perfect actor to work with, the performance she gave was perfect, painfully perfect, and the friendship she offered was perfect. I am in her thrall.'

Moore's rep announced the news of her death Wednesday in a Connecticut hospital, revealing the 'beloved icon' had 'passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine.'

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

'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.' 

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'

Actress Patricia Arquette recalled working with Moore and the kindess the veteran star showed to her

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

Couric's former co-host Al Roker said Moore 'will be missed terribly'

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

Even Kermit the Frog had something to say about the loss of the legendary actress and comedienne, tweeting: 'Miss you already'

Britney Spears tweeted: 'So strong, so courageous and so beautiful.'

'Rest In Peace, Mary Tyler Moore.'

Gloria Gaynor shared a sweet message, saying Moore was a 'true entertainment icon & a national treasure.'

'#marytylermoore you could truly turn the world on with your smile and make millions fall in love and laugh along with you,' the singer shared on her Instagram. 

Oscar nominated actress Viola Moore thanked Moore 'for the first real image of a woman being independent, funny & vulnerable.'

'Thank you for changing the face of TV,' the Fences star added.  

Pop star Britney Spears added her voice to the chorus of compliments and adulation being heaped on the late star

Singer Gloria Gaynor took to her Instagram to share a photo of a young Moore laughing and called her 'a true entertainment icon & national treasure'

Actress and current Oscar nominee Viola Davis spoke of how Moore had pioneered a change in how women were portrayed on television

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

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'

Saved By The Bell star and TV personality Mario Lopez recalled watching Moore growing up

Paula Abdul also tweeted about the effect watching Moore had had on her growing up

And the celebrity tributes just kept pouring in on social media as the news spread