The woman was Hazel Frederick. She was a real Minneapolis shopper who happened to walk into the famous opening shot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show , and the scene was kept because her reaction looked so natural.

Why she’s remembered

  • The intro was filmed in downtown Minneapolis in 1970, and Frederick unknowingly became part of TV history.
  • Her brief appearance is the older woman with the puzzled look as Mary is outside the elevator scene.
  • Mary Tyler Moore later met her years after the show became iconic.

Extra context

A lot of people still ask about that moment because it’s one of the most recognizable TV openings ever, and Frederick’s accidental cameo became part of its charm.

TL;DR: It was Hazel Frederick, a passerby who ended up in the opening credits by chance.