What Would We Do Without “Tyler”?

Like so many in the “business” before and after her, Mary Moore decided to modify her moniker upon registering with the Screen Actors Guild, and who could imagine The Mary Tyler Moore Show any other way. Tyler was her and her father’s middle name, M.T.M. explained in her acceptance speech at the SAG Awards Sunday night. Moore, 76, was honoured for lifetime achievement after more than 50 years in the industry and numerous awards including three Golden Globes, six Emmy awards and an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1980 film, Ordinary People.

Moore is most famous for her role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77) as Mary Richards, a single woman working as an associate producer in a Minneapolis newsroom. Those in the burgeoning feminist movement celebrated the comedy for its portrayal of independent working women and the show received numerous industry awards.

Moore was no slouch behind the camera either, co-founding MTM Enterprises in 1969, which produced film and television shows including The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati and Hill Street Blues. Besides acting and producing, Moore is the International Chairman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 33 and is a long-time animal rights activist.  She continues to make television guest appearances, most recently on Hot in Cleveland, a show following the adventures of four single women, including Betty White, Moore’s fellow castmember from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Moore certainly did make it after all.

-Tara Losinski