LOS ANGELES (AP) — Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda Morgenstern on television’s “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and its spinoff, “Rhoda”, has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

People magazine reports on its website Wednesday that the 73-year-old actress received the news on Jan. 15. The report says she has as little as three months to live.

She says the diagnosis hit her like a sledgehammer. “Incurable is such a concise word. I was terrified.”

Harper is trying to remain upbeat and positive. She tells the magazine: “I don’t think of dying. I think of being here now.”

Harper’s character, Rhoda, was one of television’s most beloved sidekicks during the 1970s.

Many of her former co-stars gave statements of support.

Ed Asner, who played Lou Grant, said, “I have every confidence in the world that she will shock the hell out of us and survive to keep functioning as the great talent and human that she is.”

Moore wrote, “”I’m absolutely devastated by this news. Valerie has given so much joy, laughter and love to the world. I join her fans and send much love and positive thoughts to her and her family during this difficult time.”

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