The Mary Tyler Moore Show: 10 of the Best Guest Stars

The Mary Tyler Moore Show: 10 of the Best Guest Stars

On the 40th anniversary of the finale, see famous faces who stopped by 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'

Published on March 17, 2017 01:13PM EDT

01 of 10

Carole King

Carole King stopped by The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1975. The singer and actress appeared in one season 5 episode, playing Stevie's Aunt Helen, who initially gets off on the wrong foot with Mary.

02 of 10

Walter Cronkite

Mary & Walter In A Still From 'Mary Tyler Moore' — CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

The Mary Tyler Moore Show got a visit from TV journalism royalty in 1974, when Walter Cronkite graced the series with his presence. The anchorman played himself, spending time with Mary and Ted.

03 of 10

Helen Hunt

When she was just a teenager, a young Helen Hunt nabbed a role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The rising star played Laurie Slaughter, the daughter of Murray Slaughter, in one 1977 episode of the show.

04 of 10

Craig T. Nelson

Craig T. Nelson stopped by The Mary Tyler Moore Show for one season 3 episode in 1973. The actor played Charlie, a mechanic who Mary encounters when on the hunt for a new car.

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Jeff Conaway

Two years before he hit the big screen as Kenickie in Grease, Jeff Conaway was Kenny Stevens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He played one of Charlene's dates in the show's sixth season.

06 of 10

Henry Winkler

The Mary Tyler Moore Show — CBS via Getty Images

Months before he made his debut as Happy Days' Arthur 'Fonz' Fonzarelli, Henry Winkler hit the small screen in one 1973 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He played Steve Waldman, an uninvited guest at Mary's dinner party, in the fourth season.

07 of 10

Doris Roberts

Doris Roberts paid a visit to The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1975. She played Helen Farrell in the fifth season, joined in the installment by Cloris Leachman, who played Phyllis Lindstrom.

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John Ritter

John Ritter became Reverend Chatfield for one 1975 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He appeared in the installment when Georgette and Ted neared exchanging vows.

09 of 10

Betty Ford

First Lady Betty Ford found her way to The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1976. Appearing in the sixth season during President Ford's time in office, the FLOTUS played herself, calling Mary on the phone.

10 of 10

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall appeared in three episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, first as a character named Toni in 1974, and later as Paula Kovacs in 1975 and 1976 episodes.