role model for a generation of women. ♪ who can turn the world on with her smile. >> there are few people who the word iconic truly applies to. but mary tyler moore was one of them. moore began her a sescent to stardom as a dancer in the 1950s. but landed her big break as laura petrie on "the dick van dyke show." the famous costar taking to twitter as the news broke, saying, there are no words. she was the best. ♪ i've got your number. >> show creator carl rhiner fondly remembered the moment he discovered her. >> i grabbed the top of her head, and i said, come with me. and i walked her down the hall to sheldon and i said, i found her. >> her role on "the dick van dyke show" made her a household name. but it was her own show, portraying a single 30-something