“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Featured Primetime's First Openly Gay Character That Was Lovingly Accepted by His Peers, 53 Years Ago
- - “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Featured Primetime's First Openly Gay Character That Was Lovingly Accepted by His Peers, 53 Years Ago
Angela AndaloroJanuary 15, 2026 at 9:45 PM
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Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom, and Robert Moore as Ben Sutherland -
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was known for incorporating issues of a changing society into the sitcom's lighthearted content
In a season three episode titled "My Brother's Keeper," which first aired Jan. 13, 1973, Phyllis introduces her single brother Ben Sutherland (portrayed by Robert Moore), in hopes of setting him up with Mary
The episode leads to the realization that Ben is gay and while it isn't the episode's focal point, it introduced primetime to an openly gay man accepted by those who love him
Mary Tyler Moore was always a pioneer in providing perspectives to television audiences.
The late television star took up topics throughout The Mary Tyler Moore Show's seven-season run, challenging the audience as cultural norms shifted. One such episode was a season three show titled "My Brother's Keeper," in which Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) introduced Mary to her brother, Ben Sutherland (Robert Moore), a musician who is visiting from New York City.
While Phyllis is excited to set her bachelor brother up with Mary, Ben seems uncomfortable with the idea and passes on a date night, blaming jet lag. Later, Ben returns to Mary's apartment without his sister in tow to apologize for his behavior and get to know Mary.
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Robert Moore directing, 1979
In doing so, he's also introduced to Rhoda (Valerie Harper). Rhoda and Phyllis don't always see eye to eye, but she and Ben hit it off. The closer they get, the more Phyllis seems panicked at what the potential relationship could mean.
It all comes to a head when Mary throws a party that Rhoda and Ben show up to together. Phyllis confronts them, causing the party to thin out as she urges Ben not to get involved with her free-spirited tenant. Ben leaves, too, leaving Phyllis and Rhoda to exchange barbs. Rhoda sarcastically suggests that she and Ben are getting married, but the straight-laced Phyllis takes her seriously and spirals.
After the guests leave, Rhoda reassures Phyllis that nothing is going on between them, and Ben isn't her type. Phyllis takes offense and sings Ben's praises, rattling off his attractive qualities.
"What do you mean, not your type? He’s attractive, he’s witty, he’s single—" That's when Rhoda lets her know, plain and simple, "He's gay."
Phyllis's confusion plays out in her facial expression as the moment is met with laughter from the audience, and a "relieved" Phyllis hugs Rhoda. The episode ends with Ben playing a jingle at the piano, with Phyllis by his side.
Off-screen, Robert Moore was also an openly gay man who portrayed gay characters across theater, film, and television at a time when it wasn't commonplace to do so. Most notably, Moore appeared opposite Liza Minnelli in the 1970 film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, a gay paraplegic man.
Robert was also a director, who went on to work with Harper on several episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show spin-off series, Rhoda. He also appeared in two bit parts on two episodes of the series.
Robert Moore died in May 1986, just five years after he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Woman of the Year. Robert died of AIDS-associated pneumonia.
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