Valerie Harper, 'Mary Tyler Moore Show's' self-deprecating and loyal Rhoda, has died

Harper told The TimesShe embraced the role of cancer survivor, working with the American Lung Assn. to raise awareness of lung cancer’s impact on women, particularly those who, like Harper, never smoked.

On stage, Harper played former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and 1930s star Tallulah Bankhead. But she was best known as Rhoda, the tart-tongued department store window dresser beset with insecurities. One reviewer dubbed the character a “triumphant loser” for her ability to rebound.

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" cast members, clockwise from top left, Valerie Harper, Ed Asner, Cloris Leachman, Ted Knight, Moore and Gavin McLeod in 1972. She won three consecutive Emmys as best supporting actress in a comedy for the role. In 1975, she won a fourth, as lead actress, for “Rhoda,” in which a slimmed-down, more chic version of the character moves home to New York and, at long last, lands a man.

Her father’s career required frequent moves, and as Harper was growing up, the family lived in Oregon, Massachusetts, Michigan and Southern California. By age 6, according to her memoir, she knew she wanted to be a performer and began taking dance lessons. She became serious about ballet in grammar school in Pasadena.By 16 she had developed a talent that propelled her to Radio City Music Hall’s corps de ballet, the famous theater’s “other” dance troupe.

There's a bit of Rhoda Morgenstern in everyone. Thank you Valerie for sharing your brilliance and wit with us. Rest in power. ❤ ValeriHarper

RIP in Eternity Valerie Harper !! You were an incredible human being to say the least ....

“Oh Mare....” Thanks for the memories ValerieHarper ❤️

May she rest in eternal peace..condolences to her husband and family

I was too young for the Mary Tyler Moore show but loved Valerie which later became the Hogan Family

I will always love Rhoda and MTM. Those characters inspired me to value being single. Rest In Peace.

Gone to soon but will never be forgotten. RIP ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Valerie Harper Dies: Beloved Star Of TV’s ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ And ‘Rhoda’ Was 80Valerie Harper, the Emmy-winning sitcom star whose role as the somewhat neurotic “Rhoda Morgenstern” made her one of television’s biggest and most beloved stars in the 1970s, has … Icon. Oh no!
Source: DEADLINE - 🏆 109. / 63 Read more »

Valerie Harper, Rhoda on ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ Dies at 80Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda Morgenstern, the brash, Bronx-accented sidekick to the Mary Richards character on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and went on to topline spinoff “Rhoda,” died Friday af… 😭 😢💔
Source: Variety - 🏆 108. / 63 Read more »

'Mary Tyler Moore' and 'Rhoda' actress Valerie Harper dies at 80BREAKING: Valerie Harper, beloved 'Mary Tyler Moore' and 'Rhoda' actress, dies from cancer, AP reports. 😢💔... We’re losing the great ones. 💜d her.
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Star Valerie Harper Dead at 80Valerie Harper dead at 80. Rip loved her she a icon RIP 🙏🏼 she was such a fighter 😪🙏🏻
Source: TMZ - 🏆 379. / 59 Read more »