Celebrity Mary Tyler Moore Turns 79: Happy Birthday to the Perennially Gorgeous Star By Anna Hecht Anna Hecht Anna Hecht is a London-based writer who has covered all things fashion, health, and celebrity news. She currently is an Editorial Director and manages commercial content. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on December 29, 2015 @ 06:30AM Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Getty Images Happy birthday to Mary Tyler Moore! The American actress is best known for having starred in several TV sitcoms, including her role as Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (from 1970 to 1977) and earlier when she played Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show in the early '60s. Born 79 years ago today, Moore got her first TV role in 1957 on Richard Diamond, Private Detective. From there, the actress continued to snatch up guest starring roles in several TV shows until striking it big in 1961, landing several big movie and TV parts in Bourbon Street Beat, 77 Sunset Strip, Surfside Six, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Steve Canyon, Hawaiian Eye, Thriller, and Lock-Up. Kate Middleton Is Striking in Tweed for Sunday Service Today, the actress has added "author" to her long list of titles after publishing two memoirs: After All in 1995 and Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes in 2009. Not only that, but Moore and former husband Grant Tinker co-founded the independent production company, MTM Enterprises, Inc. to produce The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Here's to the iconic actress on her special day!