Mary Tyler Moore has been named the recipient of the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
The actress, who is best known for her portrayal of homemaker Laura Petrie in The Dick Van Dyke Show and as title character Mary Richards in iconic sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, will be the 48th person to pick up the accolade when the Screen Actors Guild Awards take place in January (12).
The prize is SAG's most prestigious and Moore follows Ernest Borgnine, who was honored with last year's award.
In making the announcement, Screen Actors Guild president Ken Howard says, "Mary Tyler Moore... truly embodies the spirit behind SAG’s Life Achievement Award, and we are honored to proclaim her as its 48th recipient.
"Mary Tyler Moore won our hearts as Laura Petrie and Mary Richards, our respect as her production company became synonymous with quality television, our awe as she tackled difficult subject matter in film and on Broadway, and our admiration as she turned her public recognition into a catalyst to draw attention to critical and deeply personal health and social issues."
Moore has previously won seven Emmys and a Tony, and she was nominated for an Academy Award.
She has suffered with diabetes for many years and this May (11) she underwent elective surgery to remove a benign brain tumour.