157:. He frequently makes mistakes and is oblivious to the actual nature of the topics covered on the show but, to cover for tormenting insecurity, he postures as the country's best news journalist. He is often criticized by others, especially Murray and Lou, for his many shortcomings, but is never fired from his position. Initially a comic buffoon in the series, Ted's better nature is gradually revealed as the series unfolds, helped along by his sweet, seemingly vapid but frequently perceptive wife Georgette.
350:. Gordy is the weather reporter on the nightly WJM-TV newscast. Affable, intelligent and professional, Gordy is the polar opposite of Ted. In 1973, Gordy leaves WJM, and eventually lands a job as host of a New York City talk show. Ted thinks this would be a great chance for him to become a national name, and wheedles Gordy to allow him to take part; but Gordy, although Ted's friend, is also wise to his ways, and gently refuses. After that, Gordy returns to New York and reaps success.
80:) is the producer (later executive producer) of the news. His tough, grumpy demeanor initially hides the kind-hearted nature gradually revealed as the series progresses. He is referred to as "Lou" by everyone, including Mary's friends, with the exception of Mary herself, who can rarely bring herself to call him by his first name rather than "Mr. Grant". He is married to Edie, but during the run of the show they separate and divorce.
563:. Howard appears in several season one episodes as an old boyfriend of Mary's. She broke up with him because of his obsession with her and overall overbearing nature. He appears at Mary's high school reunion, and also attends an impromptu cocktail party thrown by Mary and Rhoda. Mary also briefly dates Howard's much more low-key brother Paul, whose company she enjoys a bit more, but Howard and Paul's parents (
513:. Their first appearance is in 1972, two years after Mary leaves her fiancé and moved to Minneapolis. Her parents move to Minneapolis to be near Mary, though Mary and her mother, in particular, have a bit of trouble learning to relate to one another, now that Mary is an adult. The couple make a handful of appearances on the series that season before disappearing without explanation.
118:, who is, in his words, "Absolutely terrific". He is protective of her and always concerned for her happiness and well-being. At one point, when Murray truly believes he is in love with Mary in a real way, Marie thinks he is going to leave the family. Mary explains to Marie that she thinks of Murray as a best friend, which helps things settle down.
178:, first at the fictional Bloomfield's Department Store, and later at Hempel's Department Store. Though insecure about her appearance, she is also outgoing and sardonic, often making wisecracks, frequently at her own expense. Like Mary, Rhoda is single. She dates frequently, often joking about her disastrous dates. Rhoda moves to
329:
fourth season, with the marriage ending soon thereafter. In a later season, Edie is remarried to Howard Gordon, and asks Lou and Mary to attend her wedding. Lou holds his peace and they part friends. Even when Lou lives in Los
Angeles, he and Edie keep in touch because their grown daughters remain a
411:. By this time, Bess is in high school. She and her mother move to her mother's hometown, San Francisco, after her father Lars dies. While Bess' step great-grandmother "Mother Dexter" despises Phyllis, she gets along beautifully with Bess. Near the end of the series, Bess marries Mark Valenti (
103:. He is assigned to write the news stories for the station's nightly news broadcast, and makes frequent quips about Ted Baxter's mangling of his news copy, and Sue Ann Nivens' aggressive, man-hungry attitude. Murray and Mary are the only characters to appear in every episode of the series.
491:. Ida is portrayed as a stereotypical overbearing Jewish mother, whereas Martin is somewhat calmer and more even-keeled. While Rhoda is living in Minneapolis, Ida occasionally visits. When Rhoda moves back to New York, she initially stays with her mother in the Bronx. During the run of
205:) (1970–1975) (Season 1–5, 7 Guest) is Mary's snobbish friend and neighbor. Phyllis is a recurring character appearing in many episodes of the first two seasons, after which her appearances decline in frequency. She is married to unseen character Lars, a
325:. She and Lou have been married for many years and have children, but in the 1971 episode "The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner", marital difficulties lead to Lou and Edie separating. Though they reunite by the end of the episode, they again separate during
355:
The producers introduced Gordy as a weatherman because of the dearth of black weathermen at that time. In several early episodes, the character of Gordy remarks, "Why does everyone think I'm the sportscaster?" Amos left the show for a starring role on
553:, Mary's ex-boyfriend. A doctor, whom Mary dated throughout his med school and residency, after which he broke things off with her. He appears only in the pilot, in which he attempts to reestablish their relationship, and is played by Angus Duncan.
615:, is Rhoda's "date" (along with his wife Nancy) for an evening get-together accompanying Mary in the second episode of the series. He returns in the second season, recently divorced from Nancy, after responding to a chain letter sent by Mary.
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show. While her demeanor is superficially cheerful, she makes judgmental comments about Mary, exchanges personal insults with Murray, and uses many sexual double entendres, especially around Lou, to whom she is strongly attracted.
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In a season three episode, it is revealed that Murray is a compulsive gambler. When a snowstorm necessitates the cancellation of a Las Vegas getaway, Lou arranges a poker game which Murray reluctantly joins.
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is played by actor and cameraman J. Benjamin Chulay A.C.E. Pete is the blond-haired fellow in the background on certain episodes. He has small speaking appearances in two 1973-1974 episodes.
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223:. In that series it is explained Phyllis has been widowed. Discovering that her husband had virtually no assets and that she must support herself, Phyllis returns to her home town of
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114:) and has several daughters. In the show's later years, he and Marie adopt a Vietnamese son. Although a happy family man, Murray is forever in love with
213:). Phyllis is controlling, egotistical and often arrogant. She is actively involved in groups and clubs and is a political activist and a supporter of
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your aunt"). Bess also bonds with Mary, an old friend of her mother's. She refers to
Phyllis by her first name rather than with a motherly endearment.
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495:, Martin and Ida separate when Martin goes off to find himself, pursuing a long-shelved dream of becoming a lounge singer. Toward the end of
217:. Rhoda and Phyllis are usually at odds and often trade insults. After appearing in three episodes of season five, Phyllis moves to spin-off
775:
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415:), the nephew of Phyllis' boss, City Supervisor Carmen Valenti. In the final episode of the series, the couple are expecting a baby.
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are fired from WJM-TV to boost sagging news ratings. Ironically, Ted, the one most responsible for the dismal ratings, is retained.
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581:. Andy is WJM's sports reporter, hired by Mary. He appears in five episodes in seasons four and five. He occasionally dates Mary.
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447:. Although Flo and Lou clash, there's a spark between them and they have a brief fling. Flo later makes an appearance on
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and a homemaker. She and Murray have three daughters; they adopt a
Vietnamese son toward the end of the series.
55:) is a single native Minnesotan who moves to Minneapolis in 1970 at age 30 and becomes associate producer of
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Georgette is devoted to Ted, and they eventually marry in Mary's apartment. They adopt a child named David (
298:' parties. She works as a window dresser at Hempel's Department Store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with
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Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the
Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic
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174:) (1970–1974) (Season 1–4, 6 & 7 Guest) is Mary's best friend and upstairs neighbor. She works as a
63:. Her sincere, kind demeanor often acts as a foil for the personalities of her co-workers and friends.
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run, Martin returns and attempts to win Ida back, though this remains unresolved when the series ends.
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591:. Dan teaches an evening journalism class that Mary and Rhoda enroll in. He occasionally dates Mary.
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537:. He becomes Mary's boyfriend during season six, appearing in two episodes. Prior to appearing on
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and Rhoda leave in Mary's life when they leave for San
Francisco and New York City, respectively.
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202:
265:. Georgette is the somewhat ditzy girlfriend (and later wife) of stentorian news anchor
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and winner of over sixteen journalism awards. She makes infrequent visits to
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571:) seem to favor Howard, and feel that Mary is being disloyal by dating Paul.
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is a lounge singer who occasionally dates Lou Grant. Charlene is played by
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and falls in love after the fourth season, leading to the spinoff series,
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285:. She and Mary get along fantastically, and she helps fill the void that
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Murray tries to write a novel; despite failing, he never gives up.
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95:) is the head writer at fictional television station WJM-TV in
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moves into. Much to her mother's horror, Bess bonds well with
362:. He later appeared as a guest star in an episode in 1977.
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are Mary's parents. Dottie is played by veteran actress
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Bess is featured more prominently on the spin-off show,
153:) is the dim-witted, vain, and miserly anchorman of the
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series, Edie is revealed to be Roman
Catholic and of
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27:The following is a list of featured characters on
244:) (1973–1977) (Season 4–7), is the host of WJM's
976:Lists of American sitcom television characters
649:Armstrong, Jennifer Keishin (September 2013).
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431:), is played on a recurring basis by actress
294:Georgette first appears as a guest at one of
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346:, better known as Gordy, is played by actor
911:Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show
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696:Armstrong, Jennifer Keishin (2013-05-07).
678:She Even Gets Laughs on Her Straight Lines
453:, covering the same political campaign as
386:. Bess is the daughter and only child of
487:, respectively. They are the parents of
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209:, and has a precocious daughter, Bess (
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971:The Mary Tyler Moore Show characters
702:. Simon and Schuster. pp. 73–.
427:(actually a distant older cousin of
981:Lists of minor fictional characters
651:"Two Men and an Independent Woman"
559:are brothers both played by actor
523:. Marie is the wife of newswriter
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330:common bond between them. In the
277:described her as a cross between
443:and also battles Mary's boss,
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435:. She is a straight-shooting
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503:Dottie and Walter Richards
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259:Georgette Franklin Baxter
128:Murray, along with Mary,
30:The Mary Tyler Moore Show
509:and Walter is played by
782:Chuckles Bites the Dust
457:reporter Billie Newman.
132:, and putative nemesis
950:Awards and nominations
601:and in one episode by
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467:are portrayed on both
370:is portrayed on both
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833:Phyllis Lindstrom
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388:Phyllis Lindstrom
321:) is the wife of
319:Priscilla Morrill
300:Rhoda Morgenstern
287:Phyllis Lindstrom
198:Phyllis Lindstrom
192:Phyllis Lindstrom
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713:. Retrieved
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660:. Retrieved
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535:Ted Bessell
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382:by actress
307:Robbie Rist
279:Stan Laurel
269:(played by
242:Betty White
97:Minneapolis
965:Categories
823:Ted Baxter
800:Characters
636:References
531:Joe Warner
511:Bill Quinn
359:Good Times
315:Edie Grant
271:Ted Knight
267:Ted Baxter
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340:heritage.
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67:Lou Grant
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768:Episodes
683:TV Guide
425:Aunt Flo
870:Phyllis
625:Rayette
497:Rhoda's
455:Tribune
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220:Phyllis
930:(2002)
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914:(1991)
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