Popular television actress Mary Tyler Moore, best known for The Dick Van Dyke Show and her Emmy award-winning The Mary Tyler Moore Show, died yesterday in hospital at the age of eighty.
Ms. Moore’s agent, Mara Buxman, confirmed the sad news to The Hollywood Reporter:
“Mary Tyler Moore has died at age 80 in the company of her friends and her beloved husband of more than 33 years, Dr. Robert Levine.”
Considered by many to be a legend of American television, the comic actress also turned her hand to more serious roles and was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in 1981 for her lead in Ordinary People.
Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 33 and devoted her later years to raising awareness about the disease. The actress also wrote about her battle with alcoholism in her 1995 autobiography After All. Buxbaum said Ms. Moore will be remembered as a visionary:
“An innovative actress, passionate producer and advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as a brave visionary who ignited the world with her smile.”
In a touching reference to the legend’s death, Met Éireann and RTÉ weather woman Joanna Donnelly added a very special message at the end of her weather forecast last night:
“Good night, Mary.”
