Personal Information or Biography
Richard Carleton Meeker was born on March 7, 1927, in Los Angeles, California, to Carleton Ludlow Meeker and Lillian Ross. He grew up in a loving family and later became a successful salesman, a cranberry sauce sales manager. However, it was his relationship with the iconic actress Mary Tyler Moore, that brought him into the public eye.
Relationship
Richard Carleton Meeker and Mary Tyler Moore’s love story began when they were next-door neighbors. They tied the knot on August 25, 1955, in California, when Richard was 28 and Mary was 18. The couple had a son named Richard Carleton Meeker Jr., who was born on July 3, 1956, in Los Angeles.
Tragically, their happiness was marred by the untimely death of their son. Richard Jr. passed away on October 14, 1980, at the age of 24. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which was officially ruled accidental. At the time, Richard Jr. was attending the University of Southern California and was said to be working at CBS.
Richard Carleton Meeker and Mary Tyler Moore’s marriage lasted for seven years before they divorced in 1962. They did not have any more children together. Following their divorce, Richard remarried Jeanette Stein Meeker.
Career
While Richard Carleton Meeker’s career as a cranberry sauce sales manager may not have been as high-profile as Mary Tyler Moore’s, his association with her undoubtedly brought him recognition. Mary Tyler Moore, born on December 29, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, had a prolific career in the entertainment industry.
Mary’s television career began with commercials, where she played “Happy Hotpoint,” a dancing elf on Hotpoint appliances. She then landed her first regular television role as a glamorous telephone receptionist in “Richard Diamond, Private Detective.” Mary made her film debut in the Jack Lemmon comedy “Operation Mad Ball” (1957) and appeared in several Broadway plays.
However, Mary Tyler Moore became a household name through her roles in two highly acclaimed television shows: “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961–1966) and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970–1977). These shows not only showcased her talent but also challenged traditional gender roles and appealed to a modern audience.
In addition to her acting career, Mary Tyler Moore was known for her advocacy work. She was a staunch supporter of animal rights, vegetarianism, and diabetes prevention. Mary wrote two memoirs, one of which focused on her recovery from alcoholism (“After All,” 1995), and the other on her experiences living with type 1 diabetes (“Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes,” 2009). She served as the International Chairperson of JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
Net Worth
Richard Carleton Meeker’s net worth is not publicly known. However, as a successful salesman and a figure associated with Mary Tyler Moore, he likely enjoyed financial stability. Mary Tyler Moore, on the other hand, had a significant net worth at the time of her passing. Her successful acting career and advocacy work contributed to her wealth.
In Conclusion, Richard Carleton Meeker’s life was marked by love and loss. While his career may not have matched the fame of his former wife, Mary Tyler Moore, his connection to her brought him recognition. Despite the pain of losing their son, their love endured for seven years before they parted ways. Richard Carleton Meeker will be remembered as a part of Mary Tyler Moore’s personal history, as she left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and made a lasting impact through her advocacy work.
