What is Mary Tyler Moore Up to Today?

She played on one of the most popular situation comedies of all time. Mary Tyler Moore, on her hit show, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," played a single woman, Mary Richards, who was vastly different from other female characters on the air in the 1970's (The show ran from 1970-1977.). The executive producer of an evening news show, Mary Richards, was not a widow; she was not divorced; and she was not seeking a man to provide for all her needs. In the sitcom, her character was respected for her intelligence and spunkiness, and she always earned laughs and affection. The show was named the outstanding comedy on television for three straight years. The comedy was one of the most honored in television history. What is Mary Tyler Moore, who also co-starred in the "Dick Van Dyke Show" before her own show, up to today?

For one thing, as a diabetic herself, she is an advocate for others afflicted with it. She has worked actively for animal rights for years. Mary Tyler Moore has also never quit acting.

Although she still acts, the actress spends most of her time educating people about diabetes and seeking funding to find a cure for the disease. Mary Tyler Moore is the international chairwoman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She has worked with the group for years.

When viewers watched the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," most of them did not know she had been diagnosed with the life threatening type 1 diabetes. The disease she has causes the body's immune system to attack beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are needed to convert food, including sugar, starches, and other food, into insulin. Insulin is used to create energy.

The more common type of diabetes is type 2. Type 2 causes the body to not create enough insulin or makes the body's cells ignore the insulin. About 90% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes.

Although there are modern glucose meters and insulin pumps that check insulin levels automatically and deliver a dose of insulin without a syringe, she does not use these. Moore prefers to use old fashioned finger pricks to stick herself to monitor her insulin levels. She also uses a syringe to give herself insulin if needed, especially if she eats too much.

"I shoot myself right through my clothes there at the table, right here in my thigh," Mary Tyler Moore said in an interview recorded in usatoday.com. "I seldom wear white as a result," she said as she laughed.

The actress, who played a character who was in her 30's in her popular show and is now in her 70's, has worked for animal rights for years. She and friend, Bernadette Peters, co-founded Broadway Barks. The organization helps promote the adoption of pets, pooling of shelter resources, and education. Broadway Barks holds an annual event in New York to promote the adoption of pets.

Mary Tyler Moore has never quit acting on television, in movies, and on Broadway. She is also an author.

On television, she has appeared as either the star or in another role in series and individual shows from the 1970's to 2011. Some of them included "Mary," "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour," "Annie McGuire," "Thanksgiving Day," "Stolen Babies," "Mary and Rhoda," "The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited," and "Hot in Cleveland "(with former Mary Tyler Moore co-star Betty White).

She has also appeared in a variety of movies including "Ordinary People" (She was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her role.), "Just Between Friends," "Labor Pains," and "Against the Current."

The two books Mary Tyler Moore has written were memoirs. In one, "After All," she acknowledged being an alcoholic. In the other, "Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes," she described her experience with her disease.

You may not see her has often on television, but Mary Tyler Moore is still very busy.

Citations:

The Mary Tyler Moore Show, no author listed, en.wikipedia.org
Mary Tyler Moore tells how she took control of diabetes by Mary Brophy Marcus, usatoday.com
Mary Tyler Moore's Charity Work, Events and Causes, no author listed, looktothestars.org
Mary Tyler Moore, no author listed, en.wikipedia.org