born Dec. 29, 1936, Brooklyn, New York, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. television and film actress.
She studied dance and appeared in commercials and in minor roles on television before costarring in the hit Dick Van Dyke Show (196166; two Emmy Awards). She achieved even greater success as the star of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (197077; four Emmy Awards), which became the most popular situation comedy of the 1970s. She also won an Emmy for her role in the television miniseries Stolen Babies (1993). Her films include Ordinary People (1980) and Flirting with Disaster (1996).