Teri Garr, celebrated actress known for her unforgettable roles in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, has died at age 79 in Los Angeles. Publicist Heidi Schaeffer announced that Garr passed peacefully at home on Tuesday after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Garr, a comedic legend, was honored by fans and industry figures alike; director Paul Feig called her “one of my comedy heroes,” and screenwriter Cinco Paul remembered her as “a performer who made everything she was in better.”
Garr’s path to Hollywood fame was paved by her show business roots—her father, Eddie Garr, was a vaudeville comedian, and her mother, Phyllis Lind, a former Radio City Rockette. Teri Garr began dancing at age six, joining the road company for West Side Story by sixteen. Her film appearances with Elvis Presley in movies like Viva Las Vegas and Roustabout led to TV roles in Star Trek and Batman, building her career.
Her breakout came as Gene Wilder’s German lab assistant in Young Frankenstein, where her charisma and humor shone. This role led to other comedy classics, including Oh, God! with George Burns, Mr. Mom alongside Michael Keaton, and Tootsie, which earned Garr an Academy Award nomination. She also demonstrated her range in dramas like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Black Stallion.
Teri Garr’s recurring appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, marked by their humorous banter, solidified her popularity with audiences and sparked rumors of a romance that Letterman later credited with boosting the show’s appeal. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, Garr kept her illness private until 2002, later becoming a spokesperson for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and using her comedic flair to raise awareness.
Even as her health declined, Garr continued to act, appearing on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Friends, where she portrayed Phoebe Buffay’s mother. Garr’s enduring legacy in comedy and film will be cherished by fans and colleagues, remembered for her talent, resilience, and unforgettable humor. Survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, and a grandson, her contributions to cinema remain as vibrant as ever.
