Friends and fans, from Ed Asner to Marlon James, pay tribute to Mary Tyler Moore

"That she was the star of a funny, character-driven television show that was named after her sent a message to girls like me who wanted to write and perform comedy: Go for it."

-- Lorna Landvik, Minnesota author "There are no words. She was the best! We always said that we changed each other's lives for the better." -- Dick Van Dyke, whose sitcom first made Moore a star "The picture that we all have of her, that's how she was — sweet, kind, so tender, so delicate. She was America's sweetheart. Valerie [Harper] and I always had to rehearse and rehearse to work things through, but Mary was always ready to go, thoroughly prepared. ... If I could see her one last time, I'd hold her in my arms and say, We loved you."-- Cloris Leachman, "MTM" co-star " 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' shared Minneapolis and our entire state with the world, as a place where everyone has the chance to work hard, follow dreams, and succeed."-- Gov. Mark Dayton "Thank you Mary Tyler Moore for paving the way for us ladies in comedy. You trail-blazed the way for us to be confident & bold."-- Chelsea Handler, comedian "Mary Tyler Moore was an inspiration for a generation of women and far ahead of her time when it came to women's rights and leadership both on screen and off."-- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar "Mary Tyler Moore not only created, in my opinion, the greatest TV show of all time, but single-handedly made Minneapolis cool, long before Prince."-- Marlon James, Minnesota author "I am deeply saddened by the news of Mary's passing. ... I will always be grateful for her kindness and thankful beyond words for knowing her."-- Timothy Hutton, who played her son in "Ordinary People"