The Mary Tyler Moore Show
CBS (ended 1977)
Cast & Crew
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Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Richards
Mary Tyler Moore was born on December 29th, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, but she grew up in Southern California. Originally trained as a dancer, Mary became known as "The Happy Hotpoint Girl" before she even graduated High School. Her first work as a regular on a series was as the secretary in "Richard Diamond, Private Detective." She quit after three months because only her legs and voice were used. After this, she appeared on many series but got her big break in 1961 when she got the part of Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." She won two Emmys for that role. After the show ended, she had nothing but failures, until a TV special with Dick Van Dyke in 1969. This inspired the network to give her a show of her own. This was "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and lasted from 1970-1977, thanks to the characters of: Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) Rhoda Morganstern (Valerie Harper) Phyllis Lynstrom (Cloris Leachman) Lou Grant (Ed Asner) Murray Slaughter (Gaven McCloud) Sue Anne Nivens (Betty White) Georgette Baxter (Georgia Engell) and most notably Ted Baxter (Ted Knight). She won three Emmys. She has been married to Dick Meeker, Grant Tinker, and her current husband, Dr. Robert Levine. She received her seventh Emmy in 1992 for "Stolen Babies." Recently, she had planned to do a series with Valerie Harper entitled "Mary and Rhoda" but the series was cancelled before a single episode was produced.moreless -
Valerie Harper
Rhoda Morgenstern (1970-1974)
"I used to get some ego thing out of saying I wasn't a star, just an actress. Forget it. I'm a star. I wanted it. I worked for it. I got it." Four-time Emmy winner Valerie Harper is best known for her innovative comedic work as Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda". On August 22, 1940, Valerie Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York. Harper began her career as a dancer with the corps de ballet at Radio City Hall during its spectacular heyday. She gradually moved into acting, working in everything from industrial shows to regional theatre to the Second City comedy troupe of Chicago. She eventually graduated from Erhard Seminars Training (EST). Harper's first movie was "Rock, Rock, Rock", in 1956. She was 16 at the time. She acted in 2 other movies, "Li'l Abner" (1959) & "With a Feminine Touch" (1969), before co-starring in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" as Rhoda Morgenstern, the single, Jewish, and (at times) very pathetic neighbor of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore). She won 3 Emmys for "Mary Tyler Moore" in 1971, 1972, & 1973. She was also nominated in 1974. In 1974, Harper left "Mary Tyler Moore" to star in a spinoff, "Rhoda", about Rhoda's return to New York City. Rhoda married Joe Gerard (David Groh). "Rhoda" was one of the most hailed TV shows of the 1970s and even beat its predecessor, "Mary Tyler Moore", in the ratings in its first 2 seasons. She won an Emmy for her role as Rhoda in 1975. After Rhoda divorced Joe, the ratings plumetted, and CBS cancelled the show in 1978. After "Rhoda", Harper starred in many movies, including "Fun & Games" (1980), "Farewell for the People" (1982), and "Blame it on Rio" (1984). In 1986, CBS gave her another TV show, "Valerie", about a mother (Harper) who had to take care of her 3 sons mainly alone while her husband (Josh Taylor) worked as an airline pilot. In 1987, NBC fired Harper for missing a day of work, so Harper sued NBC. She won $1,400,000 plus 12.5% of the profits of the show that continued on without her until 1991. Harper starred in 2 more shows, "City" (1990, as Liz Gianni) and "The Office" (1995, as Rita Stone). They both were cancelled shortly after their premiere. Then, Harper turned to Broadway. She is still in Broadway even to this day in the show "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" as Marjorie Taub. Harper reprised her role as Rhoda in the TV movie "Mary & Rhoda", opposite Mary Tyler Moore, in 2000. This tied up all loose ends from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" & "Rhoda". While Mary married a Congressman and lived in New York, Rhoda married a French man and lived in Paris. In 2001, Harper ran for president of SAG but was defeated by Melissa Gilbert ("Little House on the Prairie"). Harper, in response to the results, said, "...the election has been tainted irreparably," thus challenging the results. She was angered because New York voters of SAG had 2 more days to vote. 5 months later, after a re-vote, Gilbert was still beat Harper by 8,431 votes. This time, Harper did not care to argue as she agreed that Gilbert had one that time fairly. Nowadays, Harper spends her time acting, mostly in TV movies; speaking out in favor of women's rights and preservation of the enviroment; and spending time with her husband, Tony Cacciotti, who she married in 1987. (Her first marriage was to Richard Schaal in 1964-1978.) Harper & Cacciotti have one adopted daughter, Cristina, who was born in 1983. Harper was one of the best actresses of the seventies, and she will never be forgotten.moreless -
Edward Asner
Lou Grant
Yitzak Edward Asner was born on November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas. Versatile, committed, eloquent, and talented: all these adjectives describe actor/activist Edward Asner. Perhaps best known for his award-winning comedic and dramatic portrayal of journalist Lou Grant, Asner achieved a crossover success with this character that most actors can only dream of. Asner originated the role of Lou Grant, the grumpy boss with the heart of gold, on the smash comedy "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." For this role he won Emmys in 1971, 1972, and 1975. He harnessed the same award for the same character in 1978 and 1980 on the highly acclaimed dramatic series "Lou Grant." Asner added two more Emmys for performances in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Roots." He has also won five Golden Globe Awards. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he appeared as Thomas Beckett in "Murder in the Cathedral." As a member of the campus dramatic group "Tonight at Eight-Thirty," he was directed by the young Mike Nichols and appeared in works by authors such as Shaw and Yeats. A two-year hitch in the Army interrupted Asner's theatrical aspirations. As soon as he was discharged, Asner returned to Chicago and joined the Playwrights' Theater Club, which was headed by Paul Sills and David Shepard. After two years, Asner left to pursue his dreams on the New York stage, where he appeared with Jack Lemmon in "Face of a Hero." He also appeared in numerous off-Broadway productions as well as the American and New York Shakespeare Festivals. In 1961, Asner moved his family to Hollywood, where he began making a name for himself as an accomplished film and television actor, both comedic and dramatic. Motion picture credits include "El Dorado," "Skin Game," "Fort Apache -- The Bronx," "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs," "Daniel," and "JFK." Additional television credits include "The Christmas Star" and "Cruel Doubt." Asner's voice can be heard on the animated TV series "Captain Planet," "Batman," and "Gargoyles." Ed Asner won five Emmy awards for portraying the character of Lou Grant, a lovable, grumpy lug in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977), and a crusading newspaperman for the spin-off series Lou Grant (1977-1982). Asner's public persona is also that of a crusader, a celebrity activist considered left of center. Asner served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms from 1981 to 1985. As a leading activist in the actors' strike of 1980, he was an outspoken, controversial leader. Asner continues to be active in many humanitarian and political organizations. His boundless energy is divided between his dramatic roles, various political and charitable causes, and project developments with his company Quince Productions, Inc.moreless -
Gavin MacLeod
Murray Slaughter
Gavin MacLeod (born Allan See) was born in Mt. Kisco, NY on February 28, 1930 and was raised in the town of Pleasantville. He graduated from Ithaca College in 1952 and went on to have an acting career that included many television roles in the 1960s-80s. MacLeod is probably best known as Murray on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Captain Stubing on The Love Boat, though he also played a regular on McHale's Navy and guest starred as a "heavy" on many television programs.moreless -
Ted Knight
Ted Baxter
Ted Knight, the self-proclaimed "Polish Prince of Comedy," was born Tadeus Wladyslaw Konopka in Terryville, Connecticut. After dropping out of high school to serve in World War II, Knight studied acting in Hartford, Connecticut. During the 1950s and 1960s Knight had some minor TV and movie roles, and kept busy with voice-over work in commercials and cartoons. He finally got his big break when he was cast as news anchorman Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for which he won two Emmy awards. After the show left the air in 1977 Knight tried shows of his own, finally finding a winner in Too Close for Comfort in 1980. That show was renamed The Ted Knight Show in 1985. During the last year of its run Knight kept taping the show, even though he had been diagnosed with cancer and was gravely ill. Ted Knight died at age 62 from complications during surgery to remove a urinary tract growth. He and his wife, Dorothy, were married in 1948. They had three children: Ted, Jr., Elyse, and Eric.moreless -
Cloris Leachman
Phyllis Lindstrom (1970-1975)
Cloris Leachman was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Buck and Cloris Leachman. She majored in drama at Northwestern University, and competed in Miss America as Miss Chicago 1946. There she won a scholarship that let her go on studying acting in New York with Elia Kazan. Over the years Cloris has been nominated for a daytime Emmy more than 20 times for her work in television. She also won an Oscar for The Last Picture Show 1971. Even in 2006 she was nominated for an Emmy for her participation in the HBO special Mrs. Harris, with Sir Ben Kinglsey and Annette Bening.moreless -
John Amos
Gordy Howard (1970-1973)
John Amos is former professional football player and an American actor, best known for playing James Evans, Sr. on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times" from 1974 to 1976, and for playing an adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking mini-series, "Roots." Amos credits also include, Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Captain Dolan on the show Hunter, also in the CBS police drama The District, and most resently as, Buzz in "Men In Trees" on ABC. He is a frequent guest-star on many shows, such as, "The Cosby Show," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "The West Wing" and "The A-Team." He can also be seen in many films, from "Coming to America," "The Beastmaster," "Let's Do It Again" and "Die Hard 2."moreless -
Georgia Engel
Georgette Franklin Baxter (1973-1977)
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Betty White
Sue Ann Nivens (1974-1977)
Before "The Golden Girls" She spent two years on Mama's Family playing Ellen Harper. On it, she worked with Vicki Lawrence and Rue McClanahan, until it was cancelled by NBC in 1984. Betty White is a Television Hall Of Famer, and has acted in successful television shows, such as "Mary Tyler Moore" and probably best known as Rose Nylund in "The Golden Girls".moreless -
Betty White
Sue Ann Nivens
Before "The Golden Girls" She spent two years on Mama's Family playing Ellen Harper. On it, she worked with Vicki Lawrence and Rue McClanahan, until it was cancelled by NBC in 1984. Betty White is a Television Hall Of Famer, and has acted in successful television shows, such as "Mary Tyler Moore" and probably best known as Rose Nylund in "The Golden Girls".moreless -
Priscilla Morrill
Edie Grant
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John Amos
Gordy Howard
John Amos is former professional football player and an American actor, best known for playing James Evans, Sr. on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times" from 1974 to 1976, and for playing an adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking mini-series, "Roots." Amos credits also include, Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Captain Dolan on the show Hunter, also in the CBS police drama The District, and most resently as, Buzz in "Men In Trees" on ABC. He is a frequent guest-star on many shows, such as, "The Cosby Show," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "The West Wing" and "The A-Team." He can also be seen in many films, from "Coming to America," "The Beastmaster," "Let's Do It Again" and "Die Hard 2."moreless -
Lisa Gerritsen
Bess Lindstrom
Lisa Gerritsen's acting career spanned the years of 1968 to around 1977. Her introduction to acting was in a local summer parks department production when she was about 8. Soon afterward, she began pursuing a professional career. Encouraged by her mother and grandfather, veteran screenwriter True Boardman, she weathered the disappointments of numerous casting calls until she landed her first professional role in an episode of The Doris Day Show in 1968. After The Doris Day Show, Lisa went on to guest-star in several TV shows including Bonanza, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Virginian (retitled The Men From Shiloh during the last season), and Family Affair to name just a few. She was also cast in several episodes of Gunsmoke, one of which helped her to land a regular role in the 1969 NBC comedy series "My World and Welcome to It" that starred William Windom and Joan Hotchkis. In 1970, she was cast in her most notable role, Bess Lindstrom, in The Mary Tyler Moore show. She appeared in a total of 10 episodes until 1975. Lisa went on to reprise the role of Bess as a regular in the 1975-1977 spin-off series Phyllis. Among her numerous TV appearances, she also was cast in several movies. She made her first big-screen appearance in the 1970 movie Airport playing the role of Libby Bakersfeld. Her most memorable movie role was as Linda in The War Between Men and Women (1972) that starred Jack Lemmon and Barbara Harris. She also starred in several other movies including A Howling in the Woods (1971), Locusts (1974), and Mixed Company (1974).moreless -
Joyce Bulifant
Marie Slaughter
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John Gabriel
Andy Rivers
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Jeff Conaway
Kenny Stevens
Jeff Conaway always wanted to be an astronaut. At the age of 7, his need to wear glasses caused that dream to crash and burn. By the age of 9, he decided to be an actor (following in his parents footsteps) and won the part of the very first role he auditioned for which was a Broadway play called "ALL THE WAY HOME", starring Lillian Gish, Colleen Dewhurst and Auther Hill. A national company touring of "CRITIC'S CHOICE" followed and Jeff was on his way
When Jeff returned to his hometown in New York, he worked consistently in TV as well as Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and as a model. He discovered both a love and a talent for rock-n-roll in his teens and college years. By 16, Jeff joined the band "3 1/2" as a singer and rhythm guitarist and toured with the likes of Herman's Hermits, The Animals, Gladys Knight and the Pips and even backed up Chuck Berry.
Jeff's passion for acting though, brought him back to N.Y., majoring in theatre at NYU. After leaving college, he took over the role of Danny Zuko in the hit Broadway musical "GREASE". A national tour followed, after which a return to Broadway with the show. Afterwards, he decided to hit the road out west to give Hollywood a shot!
Jeff has done a huge body of work including many feature films, commercials, modeling jobs, plays, movies of the week and starring and guest starring roles in some of the most popular shows. For many, he is best known as Kenickie in the 1978 blockbuster film "GREASE" and Bobby Wheeler in TV's "TAXI". A succession of projects followed, including the adventure/ fantasy show "WIZARDS & WARRIORS", "THE BERRINGER'S", a recurring role on "MURDER SHE WROTE" and numerous guest-starring roles in hit TV shows. Jeff's childhood dream of "going to outer space" finally came true when he joined the cast of the c sci-fi TV show, "BABYLON 5"playing Zack Allen, Chief of Security.
Jeff presently lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife of 13 years, Kerri. He has been a strong supporter and volunteer of the LA Mission. He is currently writing a pilot for television, a feature film and a Christian CD. Jeff also teaches acting on a weekly basis in Los Angeles (for more information call (323) 692-9110). He has done about 40 feature films including "JAWBREAKER" and "MAN ON THE MOON". Recently, Jeff completed filming "DICKY ROBERTSCHILD STAR" starring David Spade.
A multitalented person, Jeff's credits to date reflects acting, dancing, singing, writing, producing, directing and teaching and this has been only in his first 42 years.moreless -
William Bogert
Doctor
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Arlene Golonka
Alice
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Arlene Golonka
Betty Bowerchuck
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James Randolph
Harrison
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Ian Wolfe
Grandfather
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Louise Lasser
Anne Adams
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Harvey Vernon
Xerox Repair Man
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John Harkins
Rev. Burns
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John Ritter
Rev. Chatfield
American actor John Ritter, typically the engaging, rather boyish, sometimes goofy comic lead, made his film acting debut in 1970 and came into prominence on TV's popular and amusing if rather unsubtly prurient Three's Company. He used the series, which ran from 1977 to 1984, to carve out an identity that led him to many other roles. Ritter would later enjoy greater critical acclaim, if less popular response, in Hooperman (1987-1989), a comedy-drama which dared to eschew the prompting of a laugh track (Previously, John had displayed his versatility with a strong dramatic performance in the TV-movie, Unnatural Causes, 1986), and Hearts Afire(1992-1995). Extremely deft at physical comedy, Ritter went on to appear in a number of light comedy features such as Real Men (1987) and Problem Child (1990), with modest success through the 1980s and 90s. He has also served as executive producer of two TV series. John, whose father was the singing cowboy Tex Ritter, and his mother, Dorothy Fay, an actress who became the official greeter at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, was twice married: first to actress Nancy Morgan (1977-1996), with whom he had three children, the oldest son being actor Jason Ritter, and then he and actress Amy Yasbeck (Wings) were wed in 1999. Ritter died of an aortic dissection on September 11, 2003 after becoming ill on the set of 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter.moreless -
Paul Sand
Robert C. Brand
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Dabney Coleman
Phil Wright
Dabney Coleman was born in Austin Texas in 1932 and was raised in Corpus Christi. Coleman attended both the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Texas school of law before deciding on a career in acting. Coleman also served in the military, with the US Army, Special Service Division before making his film debut in 1965's The Slender Thread. Coleman has been married twice and has one daughter.moreless -
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Robert Casper
Anesthesiologist
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Robert Casper
Rob
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Categories
Comedy
Themes
City Living, Cultural Phenomenon, Edgy Sitcom, Gender Roles, Laugh Track
