Actress Teri Garr dreaded not getting movie roles in Hollywood after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Sadly, the comedic actress who appeared in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie passed away on October 29 at 79 after battling the illness for several years.
Garr’s first symptoms came in 1983 as she jogged in Central Park while filming Tootsie. She recalled feeling a sharp pain in her arm and tripping as she exercised, but could not get a proper diagnosis because the pain did not occur often.
Teri Garr’s battle with Multiple Sclerosis
Even though Garr’s symptoms were unclear, she did not stop trying to find a cure. She had visited 11 doctors before she was eventually diagnosed in 1999. The actress fought the disease without announcing it because of the fear of not being cast in movies. She later shared her challenges with the public in 2002 and added that it was not as complicated as people imagined.
However, no sooner had she disclosed it than her most dreaded speculations started playing out. Garr shared her experience of ostracization in Hollywood in her 2005 memoir Speedbumps, “The phone was ringing with inquiries about my health, but when it came to inquiries about my availability for roles, it was adios amigos.” The news of her illness and the gossip that followed had a great effect on her career, but the actress remained quite hopeful.
Teri Garr also suffered other illnesses in her final days
Following the bias and ostracization she experienced in Hollywood due to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Teri Garr became passionate about extending kindness to others suffering from the disease. She became an advocate and noted that it “turned out to be one of the greatest jobs” she had.
The actress also suffered a major blow to her worsening health in 2006 after she experienced a brain shutdown while sleeping. She was rushed to the hospital and was in a coma for a week after undergoing surgery. When she regained consciousness, Garr had to go through rehabilitation to learn how to perform some physical activities again.
One thing that stood out for Teri Garr was that despite all her life challenges, she was always grateful. The actress claimed her health issues were a blessing that made her see another side of life. Teri Garr continued to push her acting career until she retired in 2011.