Mary Tyler Moore’s Most Empowering Quotes

Actress Mary Tyler Moore died at the age of 80, on Jan. 25, in Greenwich, Conn.

Moore played Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show from 1961 to 1966 and Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1977.

Moore’s groundbreaking role as single, independent woman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show elevated her to feminist icon status.

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, the author of Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And All the Brilliant Minds Who Made the Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic, told the New York Times, “She only wanted to play a great character, and she did so. That character also happened to be single, female, over 30, professional, independent, and not particularly obsessed with getting married. Mary had America facing such issues as equal pay, birth control, and sexual independence way back in the ’70s.”

Mimicking her strong character Mary Richards, Moore was also a savvy entrepreneur in real life. She established MTM Enterprises, an independent production company in 1969 with then husband Grant Ticker. The company produced a number of successful television programs during the 1970s and 1980s.

Moore was also nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1980 film Ordinary People.

Interested in a similar story? Mary Tyler Moore was a long-time animal rights advocate:

Tell us what you think! Share your comments with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Julissa Bermudez, on Twitter.