Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke together again at SAG Awards

Topics: Television ,; Movies

Dick Van Dyke presents the lifetime achievement award to Mary Tyler Moore at the SAG Awards on Jan. 29, 2012, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: Getty)

(CBS/AP) Former co-stars Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke were back at it again during Sunday's 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The 75-year-old actress, who as Mary Richards "turned the world on with her smile" in her groundbreaking 1970s sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," received the lifetime achievement award at the ceremony. And none other than her former TV show husband was on hand to give her the honor -- and an on-stage kiss to go along with it.

SAG Awards 2012: Complete list of winners
Pictures: Red carpet
Pictures: Show highlights
Pictures: Press room
Special Section: Awards season
Pictures: Mary Tyler Moore
Pictures: Dick Van Dyke

"MTM. There's probably not a person in the civilized world who doesn't know what that means," said Van Dyke, her co-star on the 1960s CBS sitcom, "The Dick Van Dyke show."

He noted Moore's achievements as an Oscar-nominated actress, a dancer and as an executive whose MTM Enterprises produced several other hit TV shows.

As she accepted her award, Moore revealed how the civilized world almost never did hear of MTM, who was told in the opening theme song of her show each week, "You're gonna make it after all."

When she entered show business at age 18 in 1955, Moore said, there were already six others Mary Moores in the Screen Actors Guild.

Told to change her name, she quickly added Tyler, the middle name of both her and her father, George.

"I was Mary Tyler Moore. I spoke it out loud. Mary Tyler Moore. It sounded right so I wrote it down on the form, and it looked right," she said. "It was right. SAG was happy, my father was happy, and tonight, after having the privilege of working in this business among the most creative and talented people imaginable, I too am happy, after all."

Before the awards show Van Dyke had stopped on the red carpet to remember working with Moore on his show.

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"She was 23 and had never done comedy. I never saw somebody pick it up so fast. I still have a crush on her," he said.

Van Dyke and Moore were so believable as husband and wife Rob and Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" that many viewers thought they were married in real life.

The show's audience, including Moore's former co-star Betty White, showered both her and Van Dyke with standing ovations, leading Van Dyke to remind them, "I'm just a presenter."

Prior to the ceremony, Moore had said that a lifetime achievement award would have made her father happy.

Tyler recently made a guest appearance on the White's TV series, "Hot in Cleveland."

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by MariePearle January 31, 2012 7:50 AM EST: I'm guessing most people under the age of 30 don't know what MTM means. They might think you mistyped MGM instead.; Reply to this comment

by DCKeene January 30, 2012 10:08 PM EST

I think this was a wonderful reunion. Can't get over the vile nasty comments on here. People have lost all respect for our fellow man. Grow up and enjoy life and quit trying to take others down.

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by DidHeSayThat January 31, 2012 7:21 AM EST: It is the downside of anonymous comments on the internet... People can be nasty and they are not personally called on the carpet. I've said a few things I regretted later; but on the anonymous comment sections, you move on to the next victim. Sad, isn't it?


by Jhihmoac January 30, 2012 7:52 PM EST: OK, but no tripping over the hassock this time...; Reply to this comment


by credibility2 January 30, 2012 3:15 PM EST: Why is CBS blocking the last name of this show...it's mentioned it in your article...besides, that was his last name...; Reply to this comment


by Danize January 30, 2012 2:33 PM EST: The Dick Van **** show with Rob and Laura Petri - humanistic comedy at its best. So now we have (or recently had) Charlie Sheen (a fine actor in a role that demands rounded humaness) cracking jokes about his nut sack on his former show. Where has America gone?; Reply to this comment


by Mungam44 January 30, 2012 2:19 PM EST: One of the tv programs from the past that I do not mind revisiting. Everyone was great including Amsterdam and Rose Marie.; Reply to this comment


by sykesterryb January 30, 2012 1:55 PM EST: If your local TV stations happen to have a ".2 Version," they may be running networks such as "This" and "MeTV." If you have "MeTV" you can see Mary Tyler Moore 5 nights a week with The "Mary Tyler Moore" Show at 8 pm and "Dick Van ****" at 8:30 pm.

Mary Tyler Moore is an amazing human being. She's had so many health problems of late and from what I've read she is now legally blind.

I didn't see the SAG Awards, but Ms. Moore's graciousness and courage to take the stage is very poignant. "Hats off to you Mary!"; Reply to this comment


by mountainstates1 January 30, 2012 12:19 PM EST: They've both aged well!; Reply to this comment

by rwsmith29456 January 30, 2012 11:46 AM EST

D.V.D was one of my all time favorites along with her later TV shows. And Laura Petrie was hot stuff!

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by signseeker1717 January 30, 2012 8:26 PM EST: Having her look like Jackie was the INTENTION.


by AAnnie52 January 30, 2012 11:45 AM EST: The DVD Show is on TV Land now, weekdays 10-11am, with full episodes available online for limied periods. Great show; Reply to this comment