Mary Tyler Moore has died at the age of 80.
The late Hollywood legend’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said in a statement that she passed away on Wednesday (25.01.17) after a long battle with diabetes with her husband Dr S. Robert Levine and her friends by her side.
Moore was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1966 at the age of 33 and in 2011 she underwent brain surgery to be treated for a benign tumour, although her cause of death is not yet known.
She had been hospitalised at a Connecticut hospital and was said to be in a critical state before she died.
Mara said: "Today beloved icon Mary Tyler Moore passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S Robert Levine.
"A groundbreaking actress, producer, and passionate advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as a fearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile."
The Emmy award-winning American actress was most famous for her part in 1960’s television sitcom ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and her very own titular ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ in the 70s.
The bubbly star was nominated for an Oscar for portraying Bett Jarrett in 1980’s ‘Ordinary People’ and had many prolific roles including starring alongside the late Elvis Presley in ‘Change of Habit’.
Most recently Moore appeared as a guest on the TV show ‘Hot in Cleveland’ in 2011 and 2013, where she was reunited with her close friend and fellow actress, Betty White.
Tributes have flooded in for Moore since the news of her death.
Ellen DeGeneres wrote on Twitter: "Mary Tyler Moore changed the world for all women. I send my love to her family (sic)"
British comedian Stephen Fry was practicing his lines on the Mary Tyler Moore stage when he found out about the star’s death and held a minutes silences in her honour.
He wrote: "Rehearsing on the #MaryTylerMoore stage today. A minutes silence as we remembered 1 of the true greats of TV comedy (sic)"
‘Star Trek’ star George Takei said Moore was a "role model".
He wrote: "She turned the world on with her smile. RIP, Mary Tyler Moore. You were a role model in so many ways (sic)"
Kiss rocker Paul Stanley hailed her a trailblazer.
said: "RIP Mary Tyler Moore. A trailblazer who’s influence is een in so many actress who have followed after (sic)"
Wilmer Valderrama added: "#MaryTylerMoore it was my honor to have met you .. & working with you when you graced us on That ’70s Show a memory I will carry forever #RIP (sic)"
Mary Tyler Moore dies aged 80
