Mary Tyler Moore was an American actress, producer, and social advocate who starred in two of the most popular and influential sitcoms of all time: The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was also an Oscar nominee for her dramatic role in Ordinary People and a passionate advocate for animal rights and diabetes research. She died on January 25, 2017, at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and inspiration. But what was the cause of death of Mary Tyler Moore?
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Cardiopulmonary Arrest
According to her death certificate, obtained by TMZ, the cause of death of Mary Tyler Moore was cardiopulmonary arrest, which means that her heart stopped beating This was brought on by three prior conditions: aspiration pneumonia, hypoxia, and diabetes mellitus
Aspiration Pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia is a type of lung infection that occurs when food, saliva, or other substances are inhaled into the lungs instead of being swallowed. This can cause inflammation, infection, and damage to the lung tissue and airways. Aspiration pneumonia can be caused by various factors, such as difficulty swallowing, impaired cough reflex, or reduced level of consciousness.
Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or a part of the body does not receive enough oxygen. This can result from various causes, such as lung disease, heart disease, anemia, or high altitude. Hypoxia can affect the brain, heart, and other vital organs, leading to confusion, weakness, chest pain, or even coma.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects how the body uses glucose, a type of sugar that is the main source of energy for the cells. In diabetes, the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter the cells, or the cells do not respond properly to insulin. This causes high levels of glucose in the blood, which can damage various organs and tissues over time. Diabetes can cause various complications, such as nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, or cardiovascular disease.
A Long Battle with Diabetes
Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a form of diabetes that usually develops in childhood or adolescence and requires daily injections of insulin, when she was 33 years old She revealed her condition publicly in 1970, when she was starring in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and became a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes
Moore faced many challenges and complications due to her diabetes, such as vision loss, kidney problems, and multiple surgeries She also struggled with alcoholism, which she attributed to her denial and depression over her diagnosis She wrote about her experiences and struggles with diabetes in her two memoirs, After All (1995) and Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes (2009)
Moore was an inspiration and a role model for many people living with diabetes, as she showed that it was possible to live a successful and fulfilling life despite the disease. She also raised awareness and funds for diabetes research and advocated for better treatments and care for people with diabetes
A Legacy of Laughter and Love
Mary Tyler Moore was one of the most beloved and influential figures in television history, as she broke new ground for women in comedy and drama. She won seven Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on TV She also received a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway play Whose Life Is It Anyway? and an Academy Award nomination for her role in the film Ordinary People.
Moore was married three times, first to Richard Meeker, with whom she had her only child, Richard Jr., who died of an accidental gunshot wound at the age of 24 in 1980 She then married Grant Tinker, a TV producer and executive, who co-founded MTM Enterprises, the production company behind many of Moore’s shows They divorced in 1981, and Moore married Robert Levine, a cardiologist, in 1983 She remained married to Levine until her death
Moore was also a devoted animal lover and a vegetarian, who supported various animal welfare organizations, such as Farm Sanctuary, the Humane Society of the United States, and Broadway Barks She also had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a statue in Minneapolis, where The Mary Tyler Moore Show was set
Moore’s death was mourned by millions of fans and friends, who remembered her as a trailblazer, a humanitarian, and a joyous spirit. She was praised for her talent, her courage, and her generosity, and for turning the world on with her smile
