<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1968--1977 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> John Rustan (m . 2000) </Td> </Tr> <P> Lisa Gerritsen (born December 21, 1957) is a former American child actress . She is most famous for her role as Bess, the independent - minded daughter of Phyllis Lindstrom on the 1970s television series The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin - off Phyllis . </P> <P> She was born Lisa Orszag, and is the granddaughter of child actor and screenwriter True Eames Boardman, and the great - granddaughter of silent film actors True Boardman and Virginia True Boardman . Her acting career began when she was eight years old . Encouraged by her mother and grandfather, and after running the gamut of numerous casting calls, she landed her first professional role in an episode of The Doris Day Show in 1968 . After The Doris Day Show, Gerritsen had guest - star or cameo appearances in several television shows including The Odd Couple, Bonanza, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Virginian and Family Affair . </P>

Who played bess on the mary tyler moore show