RIP Teri Garr

[d_marsh]

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/teri-garr-actress-and-comedian-dies-at-79/

Teri Garr, known for her starring roles in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. She was 79 years-old.

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Garr’s publicist confirmed the tragic news to The Associated Press, saying she died of complications due to multiple sclerosis.

The actress began her career in the entertainment industry as a background dancer in multiple Elvis Presley movies, going on to earn an Academy Award nomination for her role as Sandy Lester in the 1982 Dustin Hoffman comedy, Tootsie.

She appeared in nine Presley movies, including Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout and Clambake.

Garr’s first speaking role came in the Monkees’ offbeat feature film Head, written by Jack Nicholson, whom she had met in an acting class. On the Assignment Earth episode of Star Trek, she played a silly secretary, the first in a string of many such roles.

Her big break came as actor Gene Hackman’s girlfriend in the 1974 Francis Ford Coppola thriller, The Conversation.

Mel Brooks said he would hire her as Gene Wilder’s lab assistant in Young Frankenstein, only if she spoke with a German accent.

“Cher had this German woman, Renata, making wigs, so I got the accent from her,” Garr once remembered.

That part launched her career into comedy, and opened up doors for roles in Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton, Out Cold with John Lithgow, and Mom and Dad Save the World. Michael Keaton mourned the loss of Garr in a tribute shared on Instagram Tuesday.

Michael Keaton remembers Teri Garr. #MrMom is one of my favorite '80s comedies. #RIP pic.twitter.com/ghiA7Bs6r2
— Lights Camera Jackson (@LCJReviews) October 29, 2024

“This is a day I feared and knew was coming,” he wrote. “Forget about how great she was as an actress and comedienne. She was a wonderful woman. Not just greet to work with but great to be around.”

Keaton added, “And go back and watch her comedic work – Man, was she great!! RIP girl!!”

With more than over 150 acting appearances to her name, she earned acclaim on television too, working as Roberta Lincoln in Star Trek, Sgt. Phyllis Norton in the TV series McCloud, Good & Evil, and Women of the House.

In 2002, Garr revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and survived an emergency brain aneurysm surgery four years later. Soon after, she became a spokeswoman for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and would often give speeches at gatherings in the United States and Canada.

Furthermore, she shared details of her diagnosis in her 2005 autobiography, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood.

“My body had a trick or two up its sleeve,” Garr wrote. “A stumble here, a tingling finger there. I was trained as a dancer and knew better than to indulge the random aches and pains that visited now and then. Being a successful Hollywood actress may be challenging, but little did I know that the very body that had always been my calling card would betray me.”

 

[Bacpacker]

She was funny in Young Frankenstein. Quite a BABE too.
RIP

 

[Snowman]

RIP

 

[Weedygarden]

Filmology

Film
Year Film Role Notes Ref.
1963 Fun in Acapulco Hotel Guest Uncredited [1]
1964 Kissin' Cousins Hillbilly Dancer Uncredited [1]
1964 Viva Las Vegas Dancer Uncredited [1]
1964 What a Way to Go! Dancer In Shipboard Number Uncredited [2]
1964 Roustabout College Student Uncredited [2]
1964 Pajama Party Pajama Girl as Teri Hope [1]
1964 T.A.M.I. Show Background dancer
1965 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home Harem Girl Uncredited
1965 Red Line 7000 Nightclub Dancer Uncredited
1965 Girl Happy
1966 Where Is the Bus? Girl Short film
1966 For Pete's Sake Girl as Terry Garr
1967 The Cool Ones Whiz-Bam Girl Uncredited
1967 Clambake Dancer Uncredited [2]
1967 The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk Susie as Terry Garr
1968 Head Testy True as Terry Garr [3]
1969 Changes The Waitress [3]
1970 The Moonshine War Young Wife as Terry Garr [3]
1974 The Conversation Amy Fredericks [3]
1974 Young Frankenstein Inga [3]
1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Fluffy Peters [3]
1977 Oh, God! Bobbie Landers [3]
1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Ronnie Neary [3]
1977 The Absent-Minded Waiter Susan Cates Short film [3]
1979 Mr. Mike's Mondo Video Herself [3]
1979 The Black Stallion Mrs. Ramsey, Alec's Mother [3]
1980 Witches' Brew Margaret Lightman
1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Ericka [3]
1982 One from the Heart Frannie [3]
1982 The Escape Artist Arlene [3]
1982 Tootsie Sandy Lester [3]
1983 The Sting II Veronica [3]
1983 The Black Stallion Returns Mrs. Ramsey, Alec's Mother [3]
1983 Mr. Mom Caroline Butler [3]
1984 Firstborn Wendy Livingston [3]
1985 After Hours Julie [3]
1986 Miracles Jean
1988 Full Moon in Blue Water Louise Taylor [3]
1989 Out Cold Sunny [3]
1989 Let It Ride Pam Trotter [3]
1990 Short Time Carolyn Simpson [3]
1990 Waiting for the Light Kay Harris [3]
1990 A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder Marsha Pegler
1992 The Player Herself [3]
1992 Mom and Dad Save the World Marge Nelson [3]
1994 Dumb and Dumber Helen Swanson
1994 Prêt-à-Porter Louise Hamilton
1994 Save the Rabbits Lisa Short film
1995 Perfect Alibi Laney Tolbert
1996 Michael Judge Esther Newberg
1997 Changing Habits Connie
1997 A Simple Wish Rena
1997 The Definite Maybe Dionne Waters
1998 Casper Meets Wendy Fanny
1999 Kill the Man Mrs. Livingston
1999 Dick Helen Lorenzo [4]
2000 The Sky Is Falling Mona Hall [3]
2000 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Mary McGinnis Voice [5]
2001 Ghost World Maxine Uncredited [6]
2002 Life Without Dick Madame Hugonaut Direct-to-video
2005 Aloha, Scooby-Doo! Molly Quinn Voice, direct-to-video [5]
2005 A Taste of Jupiter Ginnie
2006 Unaccompanied Minors Valerie's Sister Uncredited
2007 Expired Mother Barney / Aunt Tilde [3]
2007 Kabluey Suze
2007 God Out the Window Channing Short film
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref
1964 Mr. Novak Lisa Episode: "How Does Your Garden Grow?"
1964–1965 Shindig! Herself (Dancer) Recurring role (5 episodes)
1965 Dr. Kildare Naomi Episode: "With Hellfire and Thunder"; uncredited
1965 Hullabaloo Herself – (Go-Go Dancer) Episode: "#1.18"; uncredited
1965 Where the Action Is Telegram Lady Episode: "Pilot"
1966 Batman Girl Outside Rink Episode: "Instant Freeze"; uncredited
1967–1968 That Girl Estelle / Actress #1 At Audition 2 episodes; uncredited
1968 The Andy Griffith Show Girl in Red Convertible Episode: "The Wedding"; credited as Terri Garr
1968 Star Trek Roberta Lincoln Episode: "Assignment: Earth"; credited as Terri Garr
1968 Mayberry R.F.D. The Cashier Episode: "Miss Farmerette"; credited as Terri Garr
1969 The Mothers-In-Law The Usherette Episode: "Two on the Aisle"; credited as Terri Garr
1969 Room 222 Marianne Episode: "Naked Came We Into the World"; credited as Terry Garr
1969 It Takes a Thief Maggie Philbin 2 episodes; credited as Terry Garr
1970–1975 McCloud Sergeant Phyllis Norton / Nora Mullins / Bit Role 6 episodes; credited as Terry Garr
1971–1974 The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour Various Characters/ Countess Legustav Recurring role (46 episodes)
1972 The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show Performer Regular (1972)
1972 Banyon Mabel Episode: "A Date with Death"
1973 The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour Performer Regular
1973 The New Dick Van Dyke Show Waitress Episode: "Turning Pro"
1973–1974 The Bob Newhart Show Miss Brennan 2 episodes
1973–1974 The Girl with Something Extra Amber Recurring role (4 episodes)
1973–1978 M*A*S*H Lieutenant Suzanne Marquette 2 episodes
1974 The Odd Couple Insurance Agent Episode: "The Flying Felix"
1974 Barnaby Jones Maria Thompson Episode: "Image in a Cracked Mirror"
1974 Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers Sharon Episode: "Fiddler in the House"
1975 Cher Olivia / Mrs. Oscar Smedley 3 episodes
1975 Maude Mrs. Carlson Episode: "Viv's Dog"
1975 Hollywood Squares Herself (Panelist) 2 episodes
1976 The Sonny and Cher Show Olivia Regular (1976–1977)
1976 Law & Order Rita Wasinski
1977 Once Upon a Brothers Grimm Princess Television film; segment: "The Frog Prince"
1977 Hunter Peg Foley Episode: "The Backup" [7]
1979–1985 Saturday Night Live! Herself (Host), Diner Waitress 5 episodes
1980 Doctor Franken Kelli Fisher Television film
1982 Prime Suspect Amy McCleary Television film
1982 Faerie Tale Theatre Princess Episode: "The Tale of the Frog Prince"
1983 The Winter of Our Discontent Mary Hawley Television film
1984 The New Show Various Characters Episode: "#1.5"
1984 To Catch a King Hannah Winter Television film
1985 The Booth Unknown Television film; segment: "Death at Dinner"
1986 Intimate Strangers Sally Bierston Television film
1986 Fresno Talon Kensington 5 episodes; miniseries
1987 Pack of Lies Helen Schaefer Television film
1987 Trying Times Robin Stone Episode: "Drive, She Said"
1987 Sesame Street Amelia Episode: "#19.24"
1988 Teri Garr in Flapjack Floozie Helen Eagles Television film
1990 Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme Jill Television film
1990 A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder Marsha Pegler Television film
1991 Tales from the Crypt Irene Paloma Episode: "The Trap"
1991 Stranger in the Family Randi Thompson Television film
1991 Good & Evil Denise Sandler 6 episodes
1991 Futures Herself Episode: "Math, Who Needs It?"
1992 Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View Susan Woodley Television film
1992 Dream On Sandra McCadden Episode: "And Bimbo Was His Name-O"
1993 Murphy Brown Herself Episode: "Bump in the Night"
1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Selena Voice, 2 episodes
1993 The Larry Sanders Show Herself Episode: "The Breakdown"
1993 Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert Brita Burrows Television film
1993 Adventures in Wonderland Duchess Recurring role (6 episodes)
1993–1998 Jeopardy! Herself (Celebrity Contestant) 2 episodes
1994 Duckman Vanessa Le Pert Voice, episode: "It's the Thing of the Principal"
1994 Good Advice Paige Turner Recurring role (13 episodes)
1994 Aliens for Breakfast Mrs. Bickerstaff Television film
1995 Women of the House Sissy Emerson Recurring role (12 episodes)
1995 Frasier Nancy Voice, episode: "She's the Boss" [5]
1996 Men Behaving Badly Carol Episode: "Christmas"
1997 Murder Live! JoAnn McGrath Television film
1997 NightScream Julie Ordell Television film
1997 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Witch Yenta Episode: "Dante's Inferno"
1997–1998 Friends Phoebe Abbott 3 episodes
1998 Sin City Spectacular Unknown Episode: "#1.15"
1998 Barney's First Adventure Herself Television film
1998–2002 Biography Herself (Interviewee) 2 episodes; documentary
1999 Half a Dozen Babies Lee Dilley Television film
1999 ER Celinda Randlett Episode: "Getting to Know You"
1999 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Teri Voice, episode: "Pullman Square" [5]
1999–2000 Batman Beyond Mary McGinnis Voice, recurring role (10 episodes) [5]
2000 King of the Hill Laney Voice, episode: "Bill of Sales"
2000 I've Got a Secret Herself (Panelist)
2001 A Colder Kind of Death Tess Malone Television film
2001 Felicity Dr. Zwick Episode: "It's Raining Men"
2001 Strong Medicine Mimi Stark Episode: "Control Group"
2001–2002 Hollywood Squares Herself (Panelist) 25 episodes
2002 Mad TV Herself Episode: "#7.25"
2003 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Sandy Gordon Voice, episode: "Toy Scary Boo"
2003 Life with Bonnie Mrs. Abigail Portinbody Episode: "Buy This Book"
2003 Greetings from Tucson Helen Episode: "Coffee"
2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Minerva Grahame-Bishop Episode: "Starved"
2006 Crumbs Lorraine Bergman Episode: "He Ain't Hetero, He's My Brother"
2011 How to Marry a Billionaire Lindsey's Mom Television film

 

[DrHenley]

I really liked Teri Garr, there was something special about her.

 

[old tex]

She was like the girl next door, very pretty but not slutty like some of the "stars". You could have taken her home to met mom.

 

[Weedygarden]

I knew she had not been well for a while, but couldn't remember why. It was MS. Time to find at least one of the films that she was in and watch it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Garr_filmography

Teri Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was an American actress who has appeared in over 70 films since beginning her career in the mid-1960s. She began her film career as a dancer in various musicals before having small speaking roles in Head (1968) and Changes (1969). In 1974, she was cast as Inga in Mel Brooks's comedy horror film Young Frankenstein (1974), and also had a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation (1974).

In 1977, Garr starred in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and she gained critical acclaim for her performance in the Sydney Pollack-directed comedy Tootsie (1982), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She subsequently had supporting roles in the comedy Mr. Mom (1983). She also starred in Full Moon in Bluewater with Gene Hackman and Meredith Burger (1985) and two Robert Altman films: The Player (1992), and Prêt-à-Porter (1994). Garr subsequently had small roles in the comedies Dumb and Dumber (1994), Dick (1999) and Ghost World (2001) before going into retirement in 2011 due to her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis.

 

[Patchouli]

Always loved Close Encounters of the Third Kind. What a lady.

 

[Neb]

We watch Elvis Presley movies but never noticed her. Will have watch again.

Ben

 

[Amish Heart]

Husband is sad. She was his hollywood heart throb. Never figured out why though.

 

[Snowman]

Husband is sad. She was his hollywood heart throb. Never figured out why though.

Blonde Mary Ann...!!!

 

[Amish Heart]

Ha maybe.

 

[Weedygarden]

We watch Elvis Presley movies but never noticed her. Will have watch again.

Ben

She was a dancer in one of his films.
She played minor roles for a while, as do many actors when they are trying to get into the business. Sometimes when I am watching older movies, I will see someone and know that I recognize that person. I almost always research actors life and filmology when I watch movies.

 

[Bacpacker]

Husband is sad. She was his hollywood heart throb. Never figured out why though.

She was a hottie... and funny in many parts she played

 

[Snowman]

She was a dancer in one of his films.
She played minor roles for a while, as do many actors when they are trying to get into the business. Sometimes when I am watching older movies, I will see someone and know that I recognize that person. I almost always research actors life and filmology when I watch movies.

In "Fun in Acapulco", She was a Hotel Guest, very small part...?!?

 

[Weedygarden]

In "Fun in Acapulco", She was a Hotel Guest, very small part...?!?

I don't know. Probably.

 

[teeceetx]

RIP Teri Garr, I always enjoyed your acting.

 

[Caribou]

My favorite Teri Garr scene.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/et_the_extraterrestrial/videos/vXSLAhI5Rtbb