Made her television debut as Happy Hotpoint, a tiny pixie in Hotpoint appliance commercials
First recurring role in a TV series was in 1959 as a switchboard operator in Richard Diamond, Private Detective; only her legs were seen
Cast opposite Richard Chamberlain in a 1966 musical adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's
It flopped in previews and never opened
Formed the production company MTM Enterprises with then-husband Grant Tinker in 1969
The company produced several hit series, including The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele and St
Elsewhere
Honored in 1980 with a special Tony Award for her Broadway debut in Whose Life Is It Anyway? as a quadriplegic, a role originally written for a man
Inducted into the Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame in 1985
Autobiography, After All, was published in 1995
In 2002, TV Land unveiled a statue in her honor which depicts the famous hat-throwing scene from the opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show in downtown Minneapolis
Appeared alongside her Mary Tyler Moore Show costar Betty White for the first time since 1977 during a guest-starring stint on Hot in Cleveland in 2011
Was active in animal-rescue charities and cofounded the annual pet-adoption telethon Broadway Barks with actress Bernadette Peters
Was a diabetic and served as the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Awards
1993Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special:winner
1988Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special:nominated
1985Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special:nominated
1982BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress:nominated
1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama:winner
1980Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:nominated
1979People's Choice Awards-Favorite Female TV Performer:winner
1979Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special:nominated
1978People's Choice Awards-Favorite Female TV Performer:winner
1977Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:nominated
1977People's Choice Awards-Favorite Female TV Performer:winner
1977Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1976Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:winner
1976Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1975Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:nominated
1975People's Choice Awards-Favorite Female TV Performer:winner
1975Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1974Emmy-Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:winner
1974Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1974Emmy-Actress of the Year- Series:winner
1973Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series:winner
1973Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1972Golden Globe-Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series or Television Movie:nominated
1972Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series:nominated
1971Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:winner
1971Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series:nominated
1966Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series:winner
1965Golden Globe-Actress in a Television Series:winner
1964Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series:winner
1963Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series:nominated