This beloved star of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” charmed fans with her iconic role and beauty. However, behind the scenes, her journey was marked by tumultuous marriages, resilience, and self-discovery. Take a closer look at her remarkable story and see what she looks like in recent years.
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Born in Newport News, Virginia, this famous actress has joked about her Southern roots, claiming her mother preferred the more refined Hampton Newport News. Her childhood, however, was far from idyllic.
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After her parents’ divorce, she spent time in foster homes and even an orphanage, experiences that, while challenging, taught her resilience and adaptability. Reflecting on that period, she admitted, “That was a little difficult. It all was for the best because it taught me how to get along in different situations.”
Her passion for acting emerged when she was just 14 years old, performing in a school play at Solebury, a boarding school. Her performance caught the eye of a producer, who invited her to work at a summer stock theater in New Angola, Pennsylvania.
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This same theater had once nurtured the talents of Kirk Douglas. Over the next three years, the future star immersed herself in every aspect of the theater, taking on roles as an ingénue, managing props, handling lights, and even cleaning toilets.
The rigorous training laid the foundation for a career that would span over six decades. Her big break came when she appeared on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
The actress appearing in the ABC TV series “Love Thy Neighbor” in 1973. | Source: Getty Images
While she humbly referred to herself as a recurring character, audiences fondly remembered her as Marie Slaughter, the supportive and cheerful wife of Murray, played by Gavin MacLeod. Her bubbly persona and distinctive voice made her a fan favorite.
