Mary Tyler Moore's Life Through Rare Vintage Photos
Just Showing Off
Mary Tyler Moore was born in Brooklyn in 1936 and had dreamt of stardom since she was a small child. In 1997, the actress told the Archive of American Television, "I knew at a very early age what I wanted to do."
She continued, "Some people refer to it as indulging in my instincts and artistic bent. I call it just showing off, which was what I did from about three years of age on." Clearly, the practice paid off!
A Brooklyn Girl
Mary Tyler Moore grew up in an Irish-Catholic family and lived with them in Brooklyn. The actress's father was a clerk, and her mother worked in the home. Mary was the eldest of three children, with a younger brother named John, and a younger sister named Elizabeth.

Eventually, the family moved from Brooklyn to a rented apartment in Queens. Years later, after spending time working outside of the city, the actress returned to live in The Big Apple.