Mary Tyler Moore has elected to undergo surgery to remove a meningioma, a benign tumor of the lining tissue of the brain, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"At the recommendation of her neurologist, who has been monitoring this for years, and a neurosurgeon, Mary decided to proceed with this fairly routine procedure," says the rep.

The veteran star – who in the '60s as Laura Petrie on the The Dick Van Dyke Show was TV's first sexy suburban housewife, and then in the '70s as Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was the prototypical single career woman – most recently did a guest spot opposite her friend (and MTM Show costar) Betty White on the season premiere of Hot in Cleveland.

In March, Moore, 73, appeared in Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood Issue, marking the 30th anniversary of the movie Ordinary People, for which she was Oscar-nominated for her role as the icy mother, by reuniting with its cast and director Robert Redford.

On Thursday's Rachael Ray Show, which was taped on May 5, Moore makes a surprise appearance during an interview with her friend and former costar Dick Van Dyke.

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I wish Mary a successful operation and a quick recovery!

Hope she makes a speedy recovery.

:bighug: to Mary. Hope everything goes OK for her. I saw her on Rachael Ray today, and she looked pretty good!

- Kristen

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God bless and keep Mary during the surgery - and grant her fast, full recovery!!

A friend text me tonight at work and told me!! I *gasped* audibly when I read it and one of my co-workers looked up at me and said something like, "What did I do?" and I told her it wasn't her but a text.

I just couldn't believe it. I think it was the way it was worded. I uh think -- wasn't this mentioned in her latest book, the thing? I thought it sounded familiar when in the article posted that they had be monitoring it for years...

YES!!! GOD BLESS Mary and Robert during this time!! And prayers go out to them!! Prayers that EVERYTHING goes well and she comes out of it JUST FINE!!

Prayers and thoughts are with you, MARY!! Lots of Love
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I caught the last half of RR and *yes* I thought she looked good, too, Kristen.

I was shocked to hear this news. First heard it on Twitter. I'm kind of scared for her...I hope she comes out of it fine and has a speedy recovery. :bighug:

I hope Mary's operation is a success and she has a speedy and complete recovery.

I was both shocked and somewhat scared when I first saw this thread so I waited to respond.

Here's hoping for a successful operation and a speedy recovery.

God Bless Her & hope she has a fast, safe recovery.

Mary Tyler Moore underwent a four-hour operation to remove a benign tumor on the lining tissue of the skull, her rep tells PEOPLE.

"According to her surgeon, she tolerated the procedure without difficulty and is recovering nicely with her husband at her bedside," the rep says.

In what was described as a fairly routine procedure, the tumor, called a meningioma, was entirely removed, and the actress, 73, is "will require no additional treatment," the rep adds.

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Yes, I heard the news moments ago!!
My prayers and thoughts are still with Mary... as always! :)

May nothing go wrong during her recovery! And all go well and she is back being her normal active self!! ;)

Thank goodness the surgery was a success. God bless you, Mary, and get well soon!!

So happy to hear that the surgery was a success!

I just read about the situation in the paper a few minutes ago and came on here 'cause I knew there'd be up-to-date information, and I find out she had the surgery!

And THANK GOODNESS everything went well!

I hope that everything went well. I actually asked my uncle, he's a surgeon, about the operation, he said it wouldn't be too bad of a recovery. I hope that this applies to her as well.