Her groundbreaking career spanned 50 years. her biggest role on television. jeanne moos has more. ♪ who can turn the world on with her smile ♪ >> reporter: mary tyler moore smile turned off at age 80, but not before she made it. ♪ going to make it after all >> reporter: her famous hat throw. >> here it goes. >> reporter: her first acting break was an elf. >> i'm happy housewife. >> reporter: pushing appliances. but her career really got hot. in 1961 with her first starring roll. >> i want to show you off. how about it, laurie? wi >> reporter: in her own show, a single woman in a tv newsr...