Teri Garr, the offbeat comic actress known for her memorable roles in classics like Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, has passed away at the age of 79. Her publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, confirmed that Garr died on Tuesday surrounded by family and friends, following a long battle with multiple sclerosis and other health issues, including an aneurysm operation in January 2007.
Garr’s journey in the entertainment industry began at an early age, influenced by her parents. Her father, Eddie Garr, was a well-known vaudeville comedian, and her mother, Phyllis Lind, was among the original Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Teri began taking dance lessons at the age of six and was performing with ballet companies by 14. At 16, she joined the road company of West Side Story in Los Angeles and started appearing in bit parts in films by 1963.
In a 1988 interview, Garr recounted her tenacity in landing the West Side Story role, stating that after being dropped from her first audition, she returned a day later in different attire and was accepted. This determination set the stage for her career as she found steady work as a dancer, appearing in nine Elvis Presley films, including Viva Las Vegas and Roustabout.
Garr’s television appearances included notable shows like Star Trek, Dr. Kildare, and Batman, and she was a featured dancer on the rock ‘n’ roll show Shindig. Her big break came in 1974 when she played Gene Hackman’s girlfriend in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation. This role led to her casting as Gene Wilder’s German lab assistant in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, where her comedic talent shone through. Critics praised her performance, with Pauline Kael of The New Yorker calling her “the funniest neurotic dizzy dame on the screen.”
Garr’s smile and unique charm earned her roles in comedies like Oh God! alongside George Burns and John Denver, Mr. Mom, and Tootsie, where she portrayed the girlfriend who loses Dustin Hoffman to Jessica Lange. Her performance in Tootsie earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, although she lost to Lange.
While she was primarily known for her comedic roles, Garr also demonstrated her dramatic skills in films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Black Stallion, and The Escape Artist. She expressed a desire to take on more serious roles, lamenting that she had become typecast as a comic actress.
In the early years of Late Night With David Letterman, Garr frequently appeared as a guest, showcasing her spontaneous humor. Their chemistry led to rumors of a romantic involvement, but Letterman later credited her appearances as contributing to the show’s early success.
Garr began experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis in 1983, which she kept private for three years due to fears it would affect her career. In a 2003 interview, she explained, “I was afraid that I wouldn’t get work. People hear MS and think, ‘Oh, my God, the person has two days to live.’” After going public with her diagnosis, she became an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, delivering humorous speeches across North America. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, stating, “You have to find your center and roll with the punches because that’s a hard thing to do: to have people pity you.”
Despite her health challenges, Garr continued acting, appearing in shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Greetings From Tucson, and Friends, where she had a recurring role as Lisa Kudrow’s mother. After a few failed relationships, she married contractor John O’Neill in 1993, and they adopted a daughter, Molly, before divorcing in 1996.
In her 2005 autobiography, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood, Garr discussed her decision to keep her age private, reflecting her mother’s advice that showbiz people should never reveal their real ages. While official records state her birth date as December 11, 1947, she claimed to have been born in Los Angeles, although many sources list Lakewood, Ohio. The family often moved between the Midwest and California during her father’s declining career.
Teri Garr graduated from North Hollywood High School and studied speech and drama at California State University, Northridge. She recalled her father’s cautionary words about pursuing a career in Hollywood: “Don’t be in this business. It’s the lowest. It’s humiliating to people.”
Garr’s contributions to film and television will be remembered, and her unique comedic talent will continue to inspire future generations.
