Who can turn the world on with her smile?
MARY: The Mary Tyler Moore Story
By Herbie J. Pilato
MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY is the first full-length, candid biography of Mary Tyler Moore, tracing her life and career from her birth in 1936 through her passing in 2017.
This revealing portrait explores both her public success and private struggles, including family loss, health battles, difficult relationships, and the personal challenges behind her celebrated career in television, film, and theater.
Featuring exclusive interviews with colleagues including Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, and Carol Channing, the book offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into the life, work, and enduring legacy of one of America’s most beloved performers.
This revealing portrait explores both her public success and private struggles, including family loss, health battles, difficult relationships, and the personal challenges behind her celebrated career in television, film, and theater.
Featuring exclusive interviews with colleagues including Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod, and Carol Channing, the book offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into the life, work, and enduring legacy of one of America’s most beloved performers.
Herbie J Pilato (R) with Steven Kates (L), Director of Operations, at contract signing.
Why I Wrote this Book - A Message From the Author
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Who didn’t love Mary Tyler Moore? I did and still do. She was an amazing person. I always respected her talent and the way she utilized her public persona for the highest good of all concerned. To me, that’s what every celebrity should do. When you’re in the public eye of any arena, be it entertainment, politics, whatever, there is a tremendous responsibility to do and say the right thing. At least, I think there should be. It’s all about true leadership. And let’s face it, television and film stars are leaders, if only because they have followers. And that term has never been more fully defined than it is in today’s world of social media – and Mary rose to the occasion, even in her darkest hours.
What I loved most about her was her sincerity. She was as honest as she could be in public and in private. She did the best she could in communicating her truest thoughts. She had integrity, and she had flaws – and she combined both of those aspects to the best of her ability as a consummate performer, as a professional, and as an advocate for various social causes. But she would have been the first to admit that she was not perfect, which only added to her appeal and charm. She was gifted as an actor, a dancer, a singer. Further, Mary had a solid business sense that she utilized to establish herself as one of the most successful individuals in the entertainment industry. But more than anything, she was one hell of a human being. I made every effort to explore and present all facets of her life in MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY. - Herbie J Pilato, 2018 |
Quotes of Praise
“MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY, another of Herbie J Pilato's all encompassing biographies...a thorough job in giving MTM her due.”
— Pete Hammon, Deadline.com
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“Herbie J Pilato is a true 'keeper of the flame' for classic TV. In MARY, he’s given us an extensive, humanizing look at one of the medium’s biggest icons; the good, the bad and sometimes, ugly. But it’s real. He’s spoken to all the right people...and I’m betting there’s a lot here that will surprise even the most devoted fans.”
— Peter King, Correspondent - CBS News Radio
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“For anyone who's been waiting for a definitive look at the life and career of Mary Tyler Moore, the wait is over. MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY is filled with revelations and delivers the goods.”
— Ed Gross, CloserWeekly.com
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“…[S]everal hundred pages... slowly peel back the iconic [actress] to introduce the reader to the real woman…the author has done such an excellent job in revealing her to be human, with all the foibles and fears and doubts and issues that brings along with it.”
— Steve Thompson, Forces of Geek (Full Review Here)
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“What Herbie J Pilato has given us is a one-stop tome that covers everything one could ask for about Moore herself, her colleagues, her relationships, her misfires and triumphs, her self-consciousness and lack of self-esteem in terms of her looks, not to mention her causes like diabetes research and animal rights…[a] very detailed and balanced tribute. Someone needed to write this book and who better than Herbie J Pilato. He knows how to do it.”
— Dr. Wesley Britton, BookPleasures.com (Full Review Here)
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— Pete Hammon, Deadline.com
* * *
“Herbie J Pilato is a true 'keeper of the flame' for classic TV. In MARY, he’s given us an extensive, humanizing look at one of the medium’s biggest icons; the good, the bad and sometimes, ugly. But it’s real. He’s spoken to all the right people...and I’m betting there’s a lot here that will surprise even the most devoted fans.”
— Peter King, Correspondent - CBS News Radio
* * *
“For anyone who's been waiting for a definitive look at the life and career of Mary Tyler Moore, the wait is over. MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY is filled with revelations and delivers the goods.”
— Ed Gross, CloserWeekly.com
* * *
“…[S]everal hundred pages... slowly peel back the iconic [actress] to introduce the reader to the real woman…the author has done such an excellent job in revealing her to be human, with all the foibles and fears and doubts and issues that brings along with it.”
— Steve Thompson, Forces of Geek (Full Review Here)
* * *
“What Herbie J Pilato has given us is a one-stop tome that covers everything one could ask for about Moore herself, her colleagues, her relationships, her misfires and triumphs, her self-consciousness and lack of self-esteem in terms of her looks, not to mention her causes like diabetes research and animal rights…[a] very detailed and balanced tribute. Someone needed to write this book and who better than Herbie J Pilato. He knows how to do it.”
— Dr. Wesley Britton, BookPleasures.com (Full Review Here)
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