Beverly Hills, CA, September 28, 2000 - In honor of her contributions to the world of entertainment and her philanthropic efforts, most notably for Juvenile Diabetes and the welfare of animals, Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee will name Mary Tyler Moore "Ms. Wonderful" at the 45th Annual Thalians Ball on October 7, 2000 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. In a truly personal tribute to Ms. Moore, a line up of her peers, co-stars and favorites have been booked by producer, Leslee Scallon to appear, including Dick Van Dyke, Ed Asner, Patricia Arquette ("Flirting with Disaster"), Rose Marie, Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure), M. Emmet Walsh, Ms. Moore's favorite comedian, Paula Poundstone and her beloved rock group, The Turtles. In tribute to Mary's dancing roots, the original cast of "A Chorus Line" will perform and producer of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Stan Daniels, will also honor Mary. Fellow cast member from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Betty White, will appear virtually, in a surprise video tribute. The Ms. Wonderful Award was personally designed by Walt Disney in 1966. The proceeds of the event directly benefit the Thalian's Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

One of the first celebrity charity organizations, established in 1955, Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee have led the organization for more than 33 years, helping to raise approximately $30 million dollars for the Thalian's Mental Health Center.

Moore joins a select group of Hollywood legends that include Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Liza Minnelli, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, June Haver, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Van Johnson, Gene Kelly, Dorothy Lamour, Angela Lansbury, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Mary Martin, Ann Miller, Donald O'Connor, Robert Preston, Debbie Reynolds, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman. The Thalians have also honored The Golden Ladies of the Silver Screen (48 of the musical ladies in film) and last year, the American Astronauts (the first non-show business honorees).

The Thalians is the world's first celebrity charity created in 1955 by Hugh O'Brian, Nicky Blair, Jack Haley Jr. and other actors who wanted to change the topical image of celebrities into something more substantive and heartfelt. Now headed by Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee, their legacy eventually raised approximately $30 million to build The Thalians Mental Health Center at the venerable Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 1973. Named over a table at Jayne Mansfield's Pink Palace after the Goddess of Comedy, 'Thalia,' The Thalians has attracted most of Hollywood's mega-stars. Unlike any organization of its' kind, The Thalians serves as a star-fraternity, boasting an incredibly rich archive featuring some of the world's most adored of the silver screen.
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Heidi Schaffer
Mary Tyler Moore/ PMK / 323.954.4000

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