Teri Garr

Terry Ann "Teri" Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was an American actress, comedienne and dancer. Known for her comedic roles in film and television in the 1970s and 1980s,

After gaining attention for her 1974 roles in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation and Mel Brooks's comedy horror Young Frankenstein, Garr became increasingly successful with major roles in Carl Reiner's comedy Oh, God! and Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (both 1977) and The Black Stallion (1979). In the 1980s, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her comedic role as an acting student in Sydney Pollack's romantic comedy Tootsie, and enjoyed leading roles in Coppola's musical drama One from the Heart (1982), Mr. Mom (1983), and Firstborn (1984). She later acted in films such as Martin Scorsese's black comedy After Hours (1985), Let It Ride (1989), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Michael (1996), and Ghost World (2001).

Garr's quick wit and charming banter made her a sought-after guest on late-night shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. On television, she took a guest role as Phoebe Abbott in the sitcom Friends (1997–98). In 2002, Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had affected her ability to perform. She retired from acting in 2011 and died in 2024.

Early life and education Terry Ann Garr was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 1944. She spent her early years in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and Lakewood, Ohio, before her family settled in Los Angeles. Her father, Eddie Garr (born Edward Leo Gonnoud), Her mother, Phyllis Lind Garr (born Emma Schmotzer), Her father was of Irish descent and her maternal grandparents were Austrian immigrants. and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

Career Early films and stage Early in her career, she was credited as Terry Garr.

She often appeared on television during this time, performing as a go-go dancer on several musical variety shows, along with friend Toni Basil, such as Shindig! and Hullabaloo. In 1966, Garr made one appearance on Batman (episode seven, uncredited). In 1968, she appeared in both The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. and was in two episodes of It Takes a Thief.

Film and television; critical acclaim

Her first speaking role in a motion picture was a brief appearance as a damsel in distress in The Monkees' film Head (1968), written by Jack Nicholson; Garr got the role after meeting Nicholson in an acting class. This was followed with her role as Inga, an assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, in the Mel Brooks horror comedy Young Frankenstein (1974), which marked a career breakthrough. She then appeared in a dramatic role in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as the wife of Richard Dreyfuss's character; Richard Eder of The New York Times noted that Garr "manages an attractive uncertainty and devotion as Charlie's wife." For her role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Later work and television

In the 1970s, Garr had a recurring role on McCloud, and appeared on M*A*S*H, The Bob Newhart Show, The Odd Couple, Maude, Barnaby Jones, and Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. She hosted Saturday Night Live three times (in 1980, 1983, and 1985), and was a frequent visitor on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, appearing over 40 times.

As a recurring guest on Late Night with David Letterman, Garr was renowned for her unscripted banter with David Letterman, who once goaded her into showering in his office while the camera rolled. Letterman later apologized to Garr, stating that he came to realize the constant requests for her to shower were "maybe kind of a sexist thing to do." In 1986, Garr appeared in episode 2223 of Sesame Street as Amelia Adams, a student of Oscar the Grouch's school, Oscar's New School For Grouch Research.

Garr had several prominent dramatic roles on television in the 1980s, starring opposite Donald Sutherland in an adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent (1983), in the parody miniseries Fresno (1986), and opposite Ellen Burstyn in an adaptation of the play Pack of Lies (1987), which earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special.

In 1989, Garr appeared in Let It Ride, also opposite Dreyfuss.

Garr's career began to slow in the late 1990s after a neurologist informed her that symptoms she had been experiencing for many years were those of multiple sclerosis. In film, she appeared in minor supporting roles, including a witch in the children's film Casper Meets Wendy (1998) and the mother of Michelle Williams in the political comedy Dick (1999). This was followed by an uncredited role in Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World (2001). She also provided the voice of Mary McGinnis, Terry McGinnis's mother, in Batman Beyond (1999–2001). She subsequently had minor supporting roles in the Christmas comedy film Unaccompanied Minors (2006), and the independent comedies Expired and Kabluey (both 2007). Garr appeared on The Moth Radio Hour broadcast of December 9, 2009, to tell a humorous reminiscence, "Wake Up Call".

Garr last acted on television in 2011. She appeared at the 19th Annual Race to Erase MS event in 2012. In 2019, it was revealed Garr had retired from acting in 2011.

Personal life Marriage and relationships

In the early 1980s, Garr was in a seven-year relationship with film executive Roger Birnbaum. After separating from Birnbaum, Garr was in a seven-year relationship with David Kipper, a physician, to whom she was introduced by Carrie Fisher. In 1993, Garr married building contractor John O'Neil, and that same year, in November, they adopted daughter Molly O'Neil. The couple divorced in 1996.

Stalking incident In July 1990, a Los Angeles County judge ordered a woman charged with stalking Garr to cease contacting her and to remain away from Garr, her home, and her work locations for three years.

Political activism In March 1988, Garr was arrested for trespassing in Mercury, Nevada, during a protest against nuclear weapons testing in the area.

She participated in events for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit LGBTQ youth suicide prevention organization.

Illness and death In October 2002, Garr confirmed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After years of uncertainty and secrecy about her diagnosis, Garr explained her reasons for deciding to go public: I'm telling my story for the first time so I can help people. I can help people know they aren't alone and tell them there are reasons to be optimistic because, today, treatment options are available. In November 2005, Garr was honored as the society's Ambassador of the Year. The same year, she revealed her treatment regimen for the disease, which included regular steroid injections to help manage symptoms.

In December 2006, Garr had a ruptured brain aneurysm. The aneurysm left her in a coma for a week, but after therapy, she regained speech and motor skills, and in June 2008 she appeared on Late Show with David Letterman to promote Expired, a 2007 film in which she played one of a set of twins.

Garr died from complications of her multiple sclerosis at her home in Los Angeles surrounded by family and friends, on October 29, 2024, at the age of 79. She is interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.

Legacy and reception Garr has been called a "comedic legend." and Tina Fey.

Upon her death, talk show host David Letterman called her "one of The Late Shows all-time favorite guests" adding, "Teri Garr's many appearances on Late Night gave it a cachet and importance not possible without her. She was a first class actor and comedian and a lovely human being. She elevated all, and I'm sad she is gone." Director Mel Brooks wrote, "She was so talented and so funny. Her humor and lively spirit made the Young Frankenstein set a pleasure to work on". Her Tootsie co-star Dustin Hoffman released a statement reading, in part, "Teri was brilliant and singular in all she did, and had a heart of gold. Working with her was one of the great highs. There was no one like her". Numerous figures in the entertainment industry also paid tribute including Steve Martin, Michael Keaton, Richard Dreyfuss, Lisa Kudrow, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael McKean, Paul Feig and Francis Ford Coppola.

Acting credits and accolades

YearInstitution Category Nominated work Result 1978 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1983 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Tootsie 1994 National Board of Review Best Acting Ensemble Prêt-à-Porter