Oscar-nominated actress Teri Garr, renowned for her performances in “Young Frankenstein,” “Tootsie,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. She was 79 years old. Garr’s death was due to complications from multiple sclerosis, a disease she had been fighting for many years.
The daughter of actor Eddie Garr and costume designer Phyllis Garr, Teri Garr initiated her career in the entertainment industry as a dancer in Elvis Presley films. She later transitioned to roles in television and film. Her significant breakthrough came during the 1970s and ’80s with her roles in iconic movies, which led to her being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Tootsie.”
In an interview, Garr discussed her early symptoms of multiple sclerosis, which she first noticed while filming “Tootsie” in the early 1980s. She recalled instances where she would trip unexpectedly during her jogs in the park, as if her toe was causing her to stumble. These symptoms were sporadic, and Garr later experienced a tingling in her arm.
During a 2002 interview, Garr stated that diagnosing her condition was challenging due to the subtle and intermittent nature of the symptoms. Initially, her limp was attributed to orthopedic problems or a pinched nerve. It wasn’t until she consulted 11 doctors that she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, as she revealed to Closer Weekly.
Garr went public with her diagnosis in 2002 and became an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her advocacy work involved raising awareness about the disease and inspiring others who were battling the same condition.
In 2006, Garr faced a new health crisis when she suffered a brain aneurysm, which put her in a coma for a week and required her to relearn basic skills such as walking and talking. Despite these health challenges, Garr maintained her sense of humor. She saw her health issues as an “odd gift” that forced her to “stop and settle down and focus.”
Throughout her career, Garr collaborated with many distinguished directors including Mel Brooks, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola. She gained additional fame for her clever appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman,” where her witty exchanges with the host increased the show’s popularity.
In her later career, Garr took on a recurring role as Phoebe’s mother on the sitcom “Friends” and appeared on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” She continued to act until her retirement in 2011, following complications from her brain aneurysm.
Garr once stated that when her serious films weren’t successful, she would return to comedy. She believed in persisting and continuing to seek opportunities in the industry, but also understood that sometimes they might not come. She emphasized the importance of aspiring to be an actor, not just a movie star, and finding satisfaction in taking on roles and pushing one’s potential. For her, being a movie star was like winning the lottery and about being in the right place at the right time.
Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly, whom she adopted during her marriage to contractor John O’Neil in the 1990s, and a grandson.