Teri Garr, the Oscar-nominated actress renowned for her performances in *Young Frankenstein* and *Tootsie*, has passed away.
Garr, recognized for her appearance in *Close Encounters Of The Third Kind*, died at the age of 79 due to complications stemming from multiple sclerosis (MS), as confirmed by her manager, Heidi Schaeffer, on Tuesday.
She made guest appearances in three episodes of *Friends* between 1997 and 1998, portraying Phoebe Abbott, the estranged biological mother of Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe.
Teri Garr alongside Dustin Hoffman (L) and Sydney Pollack in *Tootsie*. Image: Rex Features/Everett/Shutterstock
During a prolific career that lasted over four decades, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1982’s *Tootsie*, where she starred opposite Dustin Hoffman, although she ultimately lost the award to Maureen Stapleton.
Garr’s most iconic role was as Inga, a local of Transylvania who becomes the assistant to Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brooks’s 1974 comedic film, *Young Frankenstein*, which featured a prestigious cast including Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, and Gene Hackman.
She delivered numerous memorable lines, one of which was, “Vould you like to have a roll in zee hay?”
A familiar presence on sitcoms and late-night talk programs, she was a frequent guest on NBC’s *The Tonight Show* during the Johnny Carson era.
In recent years, Garr faced health challenges and disclosed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, experiencing symptoms for nearly two decades.
Five years later, she underwent surgery for a cerebral aneurysm.
Teri Garr in Los Angeles in 2012. Image: Reuters
She later took on a prominent role as an advocate for MS awareness, traveling nationwide to share her experiences with both medical professionals and patients, according to NBC News, Sky’s US affiliate. She officially retired from acting in 2011.
Teri Ann Garr was born in Cleveland in 1944 into a family immersed in show business and began her dance education at the tender age of six.
Her father, Eddie, performed as a vaudeville artist and actor on Broadway, while her mother, Phyllis, was a member of the celebrated Rockettes dance troupe.
After her studies in Los Angeles, Garr relocated to New York to initially pursue ballet before transitioning to acting, training at the prestigious Actor’s Studio in Manhattan.
Garr, known for her distinctive comedic style, gained recognition with minor roles in various 1960s Elvis Presley films, such as *Viva Las Vegas* and *Roustabout*.
In addition to her memorable film roles, including appearances in Francis Ford Coppola’s *The Conversation* and *One From The Heart*, she became a recognizable figure on television with roles in *That Girl*, *Batman*, and *The Andy Griffith Show*, as reported by Variety.
She portrayed a whimsical secretary in an episode of the original *Star Trek* and frequently appeared as a singer and dancer on *The Sonny And Cher Show*.
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In her memoir, *Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood*, released in 2005, she lamented being frequently cast as a silly character, according to Variety.
In 1993, Garr married contractor John O’Neil, with the couple welcoming their adopted daughter, Molly O’Neil, in November of the same year.
They divorced three years later.
She leaves behind her daughter and a grandson, Tyryn.
