For a long time I’ve thought “She always looks sad”. Even when Dick Van Dyke accepted an award with her a year ago on stage, and gave her a kiss on the cheek, Mary looked very down. I have not seen Mary T. Moore smile and really show happiness in years. Now I understand that her melancholy may have begun as far back as 1980, when her son Richie committed suicide.
Even with a devoted parent as Mary seemed to be, it’s not easy being a child of a very famous person, just ask Desi Arnaz Jr. who had a long alcohol problem.
The article makes he son’s death sound like it wasn’t suicide but accidental.
From what I understand, both MTM and DIck VanDyke were alcoholics when they were doing the Dick VanDyke show. I think I read that her in memoirs - and they became close drinking buddies. Sad!