Teri Garr was an actress known for roles in such movies as “Tootsie,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Mr. Mom,” and many more.
- Died: October 29, 2024 (Who else died on October 29?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles at the age of 79.
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Teri Garr’s legacy
In the early days of Garr’s career, her dancing was what got her roles. The daughter of a vaudeville performer and a Rockette, she was a skilled dancer who displayed her craft in movies like “Pajama Party” and “Viva Las Vegas” and on such TV shows as “Hullabaloo” and “Shindig!” But as her career progressed, she became better known for her comedic abilities than for her dancing.
Garr’s first speaking role came in the 1968 movie “Head,” featuring the Monkees. She went on to appear in episodes of “Star Trek,” “That Girl,” “M*A*S*H,” and “The Odd Couple,” and she was a semi-regular on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” Two breakthrough roles came in 1974: First was Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation,” in which she played the girlfriend of Gene Hackman’s character. The next was “Young Frankenstein,” the wacky Mel Brooks comedy in which she charmed audiences as the mad scientist’s assistant, Inga.
Work began to roll in for Garr later in the ‘70s and into the ‘80s. She had a prominent part in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” as the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character and another in the musical “One from the Heart” as half of a meant-to-be couple. In 1982, her performance in “Tootsie” brought her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and the following year, she starred alongside Michael Keaton in the popular comedy, “Mr. Mom.”
As Garr’s career reached its peak, she was already starting to feel the symptoms of what would eventually be diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. She would trip while jogging; she felt weak and fatigued and had unusual pains. She wasn’t diagnosed until more than a decade later, in 1999, but her physical symptoms began to affect her work, and her career slowed as rumors about her flew around Hollywood. She received fewer parts in box office hits, though she continued to appear on TV, making guest appearances in such shows as “Murphy Brown,” “Frasier,” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” She also had a memorable arc on “Friends” as Phoebe’s birth mother.
Once she had officially been diagnosed with MS, Garr embraced the community of those living with the disease. She became an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and often spoke to large groups about her experience. She found purpose in her work as an MS advocate, which helped ease the sting of her career slowdown. After a few later appearances – including guest spots on “Felicity” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and a voice role as Mary McGinnis in “Batman Beyond” – Garr retired from acting in 2011.
Garr on being an MS ambassador
“I loved the idea of trying to make even a small difference in someone’s life. Hopefully, my stories would help other people with MS connect, and make them smile. I thought I could show what a difference a positive attitude could make. I thought people could benefit from that. In conjunction with drugs and medical treatment, a positive attitude and a sense of humor go a long way.” —from a 2007 interview for Ability magazine
Tributes to Teri Garr
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
