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The Last Remaining Stars: Where Is The Mary Tyler Moore Show Cast Now In 2025?

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Decades after it redefined television comedy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show remains one of the most beloved and influential sitcoms in history, but as of late 2025, the groundbreaking ensemble cast is almost entirely gone. The heartbreaking reality is that the show's primary stars—Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Betty White, and the rest of the iconic WJM-TV newsroom crew—have all passed away, with the last major recurring male cast member, John Amos (Gordy Howard), passing away in August 2024.

This article serves as the definitive, current tribute to the legendary performers who brought Minneapolis's fictional WJM-TV to life, examining their incredible legacies and revealing the status of the sole surviving recurring cast member from the classic 1970s series. The show’s impact on the portrayal of independent women and workplace dynamics is undeniable, and the lives of its stars continue to fascinate fans worldwide.

The Complete Biography and Status of The Main Cast

The core cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran on CBS from 1970 to 1977, created characters that became cultural touchstones. Their combined careers after the show, including three major spin-offs, cemented their place in television history. Sadly, the last few years have seen the passing of the final surviving main cast members, with Betty White's death in late 2021 marking the end of an era.

  • Mary Tyler Moore (Mary Richards)
    • Role: Associate Producer at WJM-TV News.
    • Life Dates: December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017.
    • Legacy: A seven-time Emmy winner, Moore’s portrayal of Mary Richards—a single, career-focused woman in her 30s—was a feminist landmark that inspired a generation.
  • Ed Asner (Lou Grant)
    • Role: Mary's gruff but lovable boss, the News Director.
    • Life Dates: November 15, 1929 – August 29, 2021.
    • Legacy: The only actor to win an Emmy for playing the same character in a comedy (MTM) and a drama (the spin-off Lou Grant). He was also a prominent political activist.
  • Valerie Harper (Rhoda Morgenstern)
    • Role: Mary's best friend and downstairs neighbor, a window dresser.
    • Life Dates: August 22, 1939 – August 30, 2019.
    • Legacy: Harper's character was so popular she launched the first spin-off, Rhoda, which moved her character back to New York and was a huge hit, winning her another Emmy.
  • Cloris Leachman (Phyllis Lindstrom)
    • Role: Mary's snobbish, eccentric landlady and neighbor.
    • Life Dates: April 22, 1926 – January 27, 2021.
    • Legacy: One of the most decorated actresses in history, Leachman won two Emmys for MTM before leading her own spin-off, Phyllis. She later gained fame for her role in Young Frankenstein and a late-career resurgence on Dancing with the Stars.
  • Gavin MacLeod (Murray Slaughter)
    • Role: The kind-hearted, long-suffering head writer at WJM-TV.
    • Life Dates: February 28, 1931 – May 29, 2021.
    • Legacy: After MTM, MacLeod starred as Captain Merrill Stubing on the wildly successful ensemble comedy The Love Boat, making him one of the most recognizable faces of 1970s and 80s television.
  • Ted Knight (Ted Baxter)
    • Role: The vain, dim-witted, and self-aggrandizing anchorman.
    • Life Dates: December 7, 1923 – August 26, 1986.
    • Legacy: Knight's comedic timing as Ted Baxter earned him two Emmys. He was the first of the main cast members to pass away, succumbing to cancer in 1986.
  • Betty White (Sue Ann Nivens)
    • Role: The seemingly sweet but wickedly sexual "Happy Homemaker" host.
    • Life Dates: January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021.
    • Legacy: White joined the cast in the fourth season and brought a new level of comedic edge. She was the last of the core cast to pass away, just shy of her 100th birthday, after a career spanning eight decades.
  • Georgia Engel (Georgette Franklin Baxter)
    • Role: Murray Slaughter's girlfriend and later Ted Baxter's wife.
    • Life Dates: July 14, 1948 – April 12, 2019.
    • Legacy: Engel's unique, soft-spoken delivery earned her multiple Emmy nominations. She also had a recurring role on the spin-off Rhoda.

The Recent Passing of John Amos and the End of an Era

The year 2024 brought a significant and somber update for fans, as the beloved actor John Amos, who played the recurring role of Weatherman Gordy Howard, passed away.

Amos, who was known to fans of the show as the original weatherman at WJM-TV, died on August 21, 2024, at the age of 84.

While Gordy was not a series regular, appearing in 17 episodes, his presence was a crucial part of the early WJM-TV newsroom dynamic, often serving as a foil to the bombastic Ted Baxter.

Amos's career exploded after his time in Minneapolis, as he went on to star in the iconic miniseries Roots (earning an Emmy nomination) and, most famously, as patriarch James Evans Sr. on the groundbreaking sitcom Good Times.

His passing in 2024 means that the list of surviving recurring cast members from the show is now tragically limited to just one key player.

The Sole Surviving Recurring Cast Member: Lisa Gerritsen

As of late 2025, the only known surviving recurring cast member from the classic run of The Mary Tyler Moore Show is Lisa Gerritsen.

Gerritsen played the role of Bess Lindstrom, the intelligent, independent-minded daughter of Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman). Bess was a frequent and memorable character, often displaying a maturity and dry wit that contrasted with the adults around her.

She appeared in 18 episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was a main cast member on the spin-off series Phyllis, appearing in all 48 episodes of that show.

After the end of Phyllis in 1977, Gerritsen made the decision to step away from the spotlight. She essentially quit acting at the age of 21 to pursue a private life.

Where is Lisa Gerritsen Now?

Gerritsen, now in her late 60s, lives in Northern California with her family.

She has maintained a firm distance from Hollywood, choosing a career outside of the entertainment industry. Her decision to leave acting behind makes her one of the rare child stars who successfully transitioned to a completely private life.

Her role as Bess Lindstrom remains her most famous, a testament to the show's enduring ability to create complex and memorable characters, even in supporting roles.

The Undeniable Legacy of MTM and Its Spin-offs

The lasting influence of The Mary Tyler Moore Show goes far beyond its individual cast members. The show was a cultural phenomenon that launched an entire television empire, known as MTM Enterprises, which produced many other classic comedies.

The series is most famous for its three successful spin-offs, a feat that is rarely matched in television history:

  • Rhoda (1974–1978): Followed Rhoda Morgenstern's return to New York City, her marriage, and her subsequent divorce.
  • Phyllis (1975–1977): Followed Phyllis Lindstrom after the death of her husband, as she moves to San Francisco with her daughter Bess to live with her in-laws.
  • Lou Grant (1977–1982): The most unique spin-off, it transitioned Lou Grant from the comedic news director in Minneapolis to the dramatic city editor of a Los Angeles newspaper, making it one of the few successful comedy-to-drama spin-offs.

The show’s focus on the workplace, the realistic portrayal of adult friendships, and the subtle, character-driven humor paved the way for future ensemble comedies like Taxi, Cheers, and Friends.

In 2025, as the world reflects on the passing of nearly every member of this legendary ensemble, the show’s themes of independence, friendship, and professional ambition are just as relevant as they were fifty years ago. The careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, and the entire cast—from the main stars to the recurring entities like Gordy and Bess—ensure that their laughter and their groundbreaking work will continue to be celebrated for generations.

mary tyler moore show cast
mary tyler moore show cast

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