The world lost a true treasure with the recent passing of Mary Tyler Moore.
Mary was most well known for her roles on The Dick Van Dyke Show and the The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
The actress' role on each series couldn't have been farther from each other: She played Laura Petrie as a doting housewife and mother, then Mary Richards as a woman embracing her career and independence. Of course, she portrayed both characters with her delightful and undeniable charm.
However, she didn't just shine on our screens. After being diagnosed with type one diabetes at 33 years old, Mary became an advocate for the condition. She became the chairwoman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and even spoke in front of Congress advocating for more research.
Take a look below to see a few more facts you might not have known about Mary.
Did we miss your favorite thing about the beloved actress? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to SHARE with your family and friends!
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1. She Got Her Start In Appliances
More specifically, dancing for Hotpoint Appliances at just 17 years old as the spritely mascot "Happy Hotpoint." She filmed 39 commercials for the company in just five days.
2. Her First TV Show Role Only Featured Her Legs
While playing a mysterious telephone receptionist named Sam on six episodes of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, viewers were only able to hear her voice and see her legs.
3. She Modeled For Album Covers
You can find Mary posing on several LP covers (such as the one above from her years as a model in the 1950s) for sale on eBay.
4. Her Long Name Helped Her Stand Out
Before nabbing her first iconic role as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary auditioned for the Danny Thomas series Make Room for Daddy.
Though she didn't get cast, with Danny claiming she didn't look like she could really be related to him, he was impressed by her talent and recommended her to Dick Van Dyke, remembering her as "the girl with three names."
5. She Fought For Her Right To Wear Pants
Though producers of The Dick Van Dyke Show originally wanted Laura Petrie to follow in the style of June Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver, Mary insisted on wearing more comfortable capri pants, as it was more true to the housewife life she knew firsthand and from her friends.
6. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" Broke Records
Not only was the show a groundbreaking achievement for celebrating independent career women in the 1970s, it also earned a record-breaking 29 Emmy Awards over its seven-season span.
The show held the record until Frasier won its 30th Emmy in 2002.
7. Mary Richards Was Supposed To Be A Divorcée
According to Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And All the Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic, the producers were convinced to change the angle after the network argued audiences would subconsciously assume the fictional character had divorced Dick Van Dyke from Mary's former show.
8. She Struggled To Keep A Straight Face In An Iconic Scene
The season six episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, titled "Chuckles Bites the Dust," is considered one of the greatest sitcom episodes in television history. It features a scene in which Mary's character admonishes her coworkers for making light of the death of the clown.
In rehearsals, however, Mary could not keep herself from cracking up every time she referred to one of Chuckles' characters, Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo, and struggled to remain contained while filming.
9. She Tried Her Hand At Variety Shows
She tried first in 1978 with the simply titled Mary, but it only lasted three episodes. She tried again in 1979 with The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, which only lasted 11 episodes.
Both attempts featured David Letterman and Michael Keaton early in their careers.
10. She Married Her Mother's Doctor
Mary walked down the aisle for the third and final time in 1983 after meeting and falling for Dr. Robert Levine while he treated her mother's heart condition.
Did we miss your favorite fact about the charming actress? Let us know below, and be sure to SHARE with your family and friends!
