CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Mary Tyler Moore, who went from dancing elf in appliance commercials to award-winning serious actress in about 20 years, is now the Harvard Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year.
The star of the movie 'Ordinary People' and Broadway drama 'Whose Life Is It, Anyway' Thursday became the 31st actress honored by the oldest theatrical group in the United States.
'I think it's wonderful that the oldest theatrical association in the country should present an award to the oldest pixie in the country,' the 43-year-old Miss Moore said.
The group begins its 133rd annual comedy musical production, 'Serf's Up,' Feb. 18. On opening night, it will present its Man of the Year award to actor John Travolta.
Miss Moore's celebration began with a parade through Harvard Square. She rode in a Volkswagen Rabbit convertible, waving and smiling to people who lined the streets and crowded windows of university buildings along the route.
During the presentation, Vince Marazita, president of the theatricals and Willis Emmons, vice president of the cast, outlined criteria for selecting her as 'that performer who has made the most outstanding contribution to the performing arts in recent years.'
Jokingly noting Miss Moore's start in show business, they said the recipient had to have been 'a dancing elf on Hotpoint appliance commercials.' They admitted it was chauvinistic, but she had to have good legs.
Miss Moore first became famous as the secretary Sam in the 'Richard Diamond' TV detective series, in which only her legs were seen.
Finally, they said, the panelists insisted the recipient be a female who played a male lead -- which fit the description for the female revision of 'Whose Life Is It, Anyway.'
Miss Moore received a special Tony award in 1980 for playing the role of a bedridden quadriplegic.
The two Pudding officers also mentioned her comic ability and the Emmy-award winning 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' the TV drama 'First, You Cry,' in which Miss Moore played a woman whose life was affected by a mastectomy, and 'Ordinary People,' the drama of contemporary family life expected to be nominated for the April Academy Awards.
'We've seen a new side of Mary Tyler Moore,' Emmons said.
Previous recipients of the award include Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Lauren Bacall, Liza Minnelli, Gertrude Lawrence and Beverly Sills. Last year's winner was Meryl Streep.
