Oscar-nominated actor Teri Garr known for her works in films like Young Frankenstein and Tootsie' has passed away in Los Angeles. She was 79, reported Variety. She died after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Her movie debut was as an extra in A Swingin' Affair (1963). Garr appeared in TV shows and films from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. James Earl Jones Dies at 93: From Darth Vader in ‘The Star Wars’ Series to Mufasa in ‘The Lion King’, 5 Iconic Roles of the Hollywood Legend!.
"The actress stated in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with MS, and she had an aneurysm in 2006," as per Variety. Her movie debut was as an extra in A Swingin' Affair (1963). She started her career as a dancer.
Teri Garr Passes Away at 79
Awww, she was a favorite. She was quirky and appeared in a lot of funny, quirky movies. RIP...
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Teri Garr, 'Young Frankenstein' actress, dead at 79 https://t.co/EvlcnviO2q pic.twitter.com/1TR9uv0igc
— Dogs Chained And Throttled On X (@baileyjer) October 30, 2024
Garr was featured in several successful films, including a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation (1974). She rose to prominence after playing Inga, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein's assistant, in Mel Brooks' horror comedy Young Frankenstein. She then appeared in a dramatic role in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the drama The Black Stallion.
Garr landed a role as the recurring character Phoebe Abbott in Friends.
Born in Ohio, she moved to Los Angeles, graduated from North Hollywood High School, and attended Cal State Northridge before moving to New York to study acting.
In 1982, she starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in the 1982 comedy Tootsie, playing an actress whose actor friend (Hoffman) disguises himself as a woman to further his career. For her role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She then appeared in the comedy Mr. Mom (1983) as the wife of Michael Keaton's character, followed by a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's After Hours (1985). In 1992, Garr played Marge Nelson in Mom and Dad Save the World, a sci-fi adventure/family romantic comedy film.
Garr collaborated with many of the era's most important directors, including Brooks, Spielberg, Pollack, and Coppola, Martin Scorsese for After Hours, and Robert Altman for The Player and Pret-a-Porter. Lynda Obst, Producer of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘Interstellar’ and More, Dies of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
She hosted Saturday Night Live three times and appeared frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night With David Letterman. She is survived by her daughter, Molly O'Neil, and grandson Tyryn, reported Variety.