Valerie Harper's emotional journey on "Dancing With the Stars" came to an end after the 74-year-old TV veteran was voted of the competitive dancing show Monday night.
"It has been absolutely wonderful completely unique, like nothing else in the world that you would ever do," she told host Tom Bergeron. "And it was an opportunity for me to carry a message to folks, not just with cancer, whatever they have whatever challenge."
Harper, who starred in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spin-off "Rhoda," announced early this year that she was battling terminal brain caner and was given only months to live. After the elimination, Harper said she felt as though she fulfilled that goal and was excited to dance to "Carry On" by the band Fun.
"That's a beautiful song, a great sentiment," she told her partner Tristan MacManus during rehearsals last week. "It's almost the musical equal to the message I'm trying to get [across]. 'Cause I got bad news but I'm trying to carry on.'"
Harper struggled the past two weeks trying to remember the choreography to her numbers, and suffered an old knee injury. The elimination was based last week's performance. Last week's Harper's cha-cha earned her 16 points. The actress received 18 points for her Viennese waltz Monday night (VIDEO). She was placed in the bottom two along with reality TV star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.
Harper's experience overcoming adversity touched so many, including celebrities and past "DWTS" cast members.
I have not even shed a tear for @JackOsbourne but @Valerieharper made me ball my eyes out on tonight's #dwts! What an incredible women!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) October 8, 2013
#DWTS @ValerieHarper You r an example of what life should be/courageous, loving. So sad 2 c u go. Been a joy 2 have u on @DancingABC. — Linda Dano (@LindaDano) October 8, 2013
Valerie Harper is a warrior - love her #DWTS
— Caroline Manzo (@CarolineManzo) October 8, 2013