Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Marjorie Hackett Moore |
| Also recorded as | Margaret Josephine Hackett |
| Born | March 22, 1916 |
| Place of birth | Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | March 19, 1992 |
| Place of death | Studio City, California |
| Burial | San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles |
| Spouse | George Tyler Moore |
| Marriage date | January 24, 1936 |
| Children | Mary Tyler Moore, John Hackett Moore, Elizabeth Ann Moore |
| Grandchild | Richard Carleton Meeker Jr. (Richie Meeker) |
| Primary public role | Homemaker, mother of actress Mary Tyler Moore |
Names and Records
Public records and family history refer to her as both Marjorie Hackett Moore and, in some cases, Margaret Josephine Hackett. Variants like these are common in early to mid-twentieth-century paperwork, particularly when moving, changing jurisdictions, or using clerical methods. To be clear, Marjorie Hackett Moore is used throughout this document, however the variant form is acknowledged in some papers.
Early Life and Marriage
Detroit, Michigan, was booming with industrial activity and newcomers when Marjorie was born on March 22, 1916. She married George Tyler Moore on January 24, 1936, in her early 20s. The marriage started a partnership that would span the Great Lakes, Eastern seaboard, and Southern California.
Their first child, Mary, arrived on December 29, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. The young family settled into urban life in the Northeast, part of a generation for whom mobility was a tool and a necessity.
Motherhood and a Cross-Country Move
Three children crowded the Moore family for 20 years. The oldest was Mary Tyler Moore. In 1944, Hackett Moore followed. Elizabeth Ann Moore was born in 1956, 20 years after the first child. The family left New York for Los Angeles in 1945. With World War II ending and a sunbelt future promising new starts, many American families made important decisions. Los Angeles was the Moores’ long-term home and guided their family.
Below is a quick reference timeline of milestones that frame Marjorie’s family life:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1916 | Birth in Detroit, Michigan |
| 1936 | Marriage to George Tyler Moore |
| 1936 | Birth of daughter Mary Tyler Moore in Brooklyn |
| 1944 | Birth of son John Hackett Moore |
| 1945 | Family move from New York to Los Angeles |
| 1956 | Birth of daughter Elizabeth Ann Moore |
| 1992 | Death in Studio City, California and burial in Mission Hills |
Family Web and Notable Relatives
Although most public attention turns to her eldest child, Mary Tyler Moore, Marjorie’s family ties reach across multiple generations. She is recorded as the mother of:
- Mary Tyler Moore, born December 29, 1936 in Brooklyn
- John Hackett Moore, born 1944
- Elizabeth Ann Moore, born 1956
Her grandchild through Mary is Richard Carleton Meeker Jr., known as Richie Meeker. Through these relationships, Marjorie appears consistently in narratives about Mary’s upbringing, family dynamics, and the personal roots behind one of television’s most beloved performers.
A Quiet Career at Home
Her public identity is as a homemaker. Mary’s years were spent in privacy, where she achieved via rituals, relationships, and resilience. Mid-century American families were mobile and adaptable, as shown by the family’s 1945 move to Los Angeles. She managed a growing family, welcomed children in two American eras, and helped the family adjust to place and time.
Connections to Cultural History
Mary Tyler Moore’s career links Marjorie’s tale to culture. The genesis stories that shaped Mary include her. According to a popular story, Mary met Dr. Robert Levine while Marjorie was sick and Levine was the on-call doctor. Mary and Dr. Levine married in 1983, starting their story during a family crisis. It shows how a mother’s life can quietly influence events considerably larger than the catalyst.
Later Years and Passing
Marjorie lived to see her children grow up and Mary become a cultural icon. She died at 75 in Studio City, California, on March 19, 1992. San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, a historic cemetery in the San Fernando Valley, includes numerous 20th-century Los Angeles stories.
Extended Timeline with Key Dates
| Date | Age | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| March 22, 1916 | 0 | Born in Detroit, Michigan |
| January 24, 1936 | 19 | Married George Tyler Moore |
| December 29, 1936 | 20 | Birth of daughter Mary in Brooklyn |
| 1944 | 28 | Birth of son John |
| 1945 | 29 | Family relocation from New York to Los Angeles |
| 1956 | 40 | Birth of daughter Elizabeth |
| 1983 | 67 | Mary marries Dr. Robert Levine, a story later linked to Marjorie’s illness |
| March 19, 1992 | 75 | Died in Studio City, California |
| After March 1992 | — | Burial at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills |
Family Overview Table
| Relationship | Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse | George Tyler Moore | 1913 | 2006 | Married January 24, 1936 |
| Daughter | Mary Tyler Moore | December 29, 1936 | 2017 | Actress and producer |
| Son | John Hackett Moore | 1944 | — | Life kept largely out of public view |
| Daughter | Elizabeth Ann Moore | 1956 | — | Youngest child |
| Grandson | Richard Carleton Meeker Jr. | 1961 | 1980 | Son of Mary Tyler Moore |
Role in Mary Tyler Moore’s Early Life
Every biography is scaffolded. Mary’s mother was a homemaker and steadfast. The 1945 move to Los Angeles brought Mary closer to the entertainment world, but her path from family life to a successful TV career was not straight. Marjorie’s effect is shown in subtle moments: the home life that disciplined a young performer, the rituals that settled a family on a new shore, and the lessons a mother passes down quietly.
A Life Measured in Relationships
Relational records last longest for Marjorie. Mother of 20 years, grandma of a brief, heartbreaking time. Bride of 56 years. Her history is a family ledger of names, dates, and addresses that span American life from Detroit industry to Brooklyn dense to Los Angeles sprawl. She reminds us that many public stories come from private lives and that a home can be a sanctuary and a launchpad.
FAQ
Who was Marjorie Hackett Moore?
She was an American homemaker best known publicly as the mother of actress Mary Tyler Moore.
When and where was she born?
She was born on March 22, 1916 in Detroit, Michigan.
When and where did she die?
She died on March 19, 1992 in Studio City, California.
Where is she buried?
She is buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles.
Who was her spouse?
She married George Tyler Moore on January 24, 1936.
Who were her children?
Her children were Mary Tyler Moore, John Hackett Moore, and Elizabeth Ann Moore.
Did she have grandchildren?
Yes, her grandson through Mary is Richard Carleton Meeker Jr., known as Richie Meeker.
Did she have a public career?
She is described in public records as a homemaker rather than a professional public figure.
Is there another version of her name in records?
Some records list her as Margaret Josephine Hackett in addition to Marjorie Hackett Moore.
How did her life intersect with Mary Tyler Moore’s marriage to Dr. Robert Levine?
Mary met Dr. Levine in a context that began with Marjorie’s illness, and Mary later married him in 1983.
