Perspectives; Mary Tyler Moore

[CelticWarlord]

Mary Tyler Moore (1936 – 2017) was an American actress, producer and social advocate. She was widely known for her prominent television roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977). With her two most prominent roles challenging gender stereotypes and norms The New York Times said Moore’s “performances helped define a new vision of American womanhood.” The Guardian said “her outwardly bubbly personality and trademark broad, toothy smile disguised an inner fragility that appealed to an audience facing the new trials of modern-day existence.” In her early 30’s she was a recovering alcoholic when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Her only son from three marriages was tragically killed by an accidental, self-inflicted gun shot wound in 1980. A statue of Moore (the famous hat toss) stands in Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

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“Whatever it is, it’s OK because it’s what it is. Don’t be looking for perfection. Don’t be short-tempered with yourself. And you’ll be a whole lot nicer to be around with everyone else.”​

“I knew at a very early age what I wanted to do. Some people refer to it as indulging in my instincts and artistic bent. I call it just showing off, which was what I did from about three years of age on.”​

“I’m not an actress who can create a character. I play me.”​

“You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you. Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.”​

“Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you’re really strangers.”​

“My grandfather once said, having watched me one entire afternoon, prancing and leaping and cavorting, ‘This child will either end up on stage or in jail.’ Fortunately, I took the easy route.”​

“I’m an experienced woman; I’ve been around … well, alright, I might not’ve been around, but I’ve been … nearby.”​

 

[JanR]

I’ve always wondered how she could have gone through much of her life unaware that she had Type I diabetes? Usually, that’s the type children have, and it’s discovered early in their lives. Could it have been gestational onset? Type I is the type of diabetes where the pancreas fails to make any insulin, at all. Can that just suddenly happen after it performs normally for many, many years? The pancreas just shuts down and shuts off?

 

[Irishmom2]

I loved her on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but my favorite role was the part of the mom in the movie Ordinary People. It was quite a different side of her. Not too bubbly, and kind of unlikeable.

 

[Pattylt]

Hi Jan,
Its not typical but it does happen. Sometimes they develop an antibody that attacks the pancreas, sometimes the stimulating hormone just quits. Basically, Type 1 refers to the need for insulin injections as much as the pancreas not producing the hormone. Thats about as much as I remember but we did see patients develop Type 1 past their teens…especially alcoholics as alcohol really challenges the pancreas as well as the liver. Many diabetics develop pancreatitis as well as alcoholics.