Groundbreaking TV and film star Mary Tyler Moore dies at age 80

One of the pioneers who broke new ground for women in entertainment, particularly on the home screen and in comedy, has died.

Mary Tyler Moore's publicist has announced that Moore died at age 80. She had been reported to have been suffering from health problems recently and she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1966.

Beloved by audiences, her influential roles often helped to represent independent career women on-screen at a time when there were few, if any, visible.

The Brooklyn-born actor was best-known for her roles as homemaker Laurie Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961 to 1966) and as news producer Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970 to 1977).

She also starred in films such as Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) and Change of Habit (1969) with Elvis Presley.

Her complex performance in Robert Redford's directorial debut, the 1980 drama Ordinary People, marked her breakout from her sitcom work, for which she received an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe Award.

She also devoted herself to numerous causes and charity work, including animal-rights activism and juvenile diabetes.

Her passing occurred only a few months after another iconic female TV star, Florence Henderson, died in November.