Teri Garr, the beloved actress celebrated for her roles in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, passed away in Los Angeles on Tuesday at the age of 79. Her publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that Garr died due to complications from multiple sclerosis.
Garr’s career in show business began as a background dancer in Elvis Presley films, eventually leading to her Academy Award-nominated performance as Sandy Lester in the 1982 comedy Tootsie, starring alongside Dustin Hoffman.
Remembering Teri Garr and her legacy
Born to vaudeville comedian Eddie Garr and Phyllis Lind, one of the original Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Teri Garr seemed destined for a life in show business. Garr danced her way through nine Elvis Presley films, including Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout, and Clambake.
After appearing as a featured dancer on Shindig and joining the cast of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, Garr landed her first major film role as Gene Hackman’s girlfriend in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 thriller The Conversation.
With over 150 acting roles to her credit, Teri Garr made her mark on television as well, with notable performances as Roberta Lincoln in Star Trek, Sgt. Phyllis Norton in McCloud, and appearances in Good & Evil and Women of the House. She delivered a memorable guest appearance on the NBC sitcom Friends as Lisa Kudrow’s character’s mother. Garr’s final credited role came in the 2011 series How to Marry a Billionaire.
After publicly revealing her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2002, Garr underwent emergency brain aneurysm surgery in 2006. She became an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, speaking at events across the U.S. and Canada.
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Rest in peace.