October 29th 2024.
Actress Teri Garr has passed away at the age of 79. Known for her roles in Tootsie and Young Frankenstein, Garr had a successful career in both TV and film, with over 140 acting credits to her name. In 2002, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Sadly, she passed away on Tuesday due to complications from her condition, surrounded by her loved ones.
Born into a showbusiness family, Garr's passion for the performing arts was evident from a young age. Her mother worked in costume production, while her father was a vaudeville performer. Garr herself trained as a dancer, specializing in ballet, before turning her focus to acting. She honed her craft at prestigious institutions such as the Actors Studio and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City.
Garr's career took off thanks to her impressive dancing skills. She appeared as a dancer in various TV variety shows and even shared the screen with Elvis Presley in films like Viva Las Vegas. Her first speaking role came in 1968, in the Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson-produced film Head. She then became a regular on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour in the early 1970s.
However, it was in 1974 that Garr landed her breakthrough roles, in Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation and Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. The latter earned her widespread recognition and she became best known for her roles in Tootsie and Young Frankenstein. She also appeared in other notable works such as Firstborn in 1984 and had a recurring role as Lisa Kudrow's onscreen mother in the hit TV show Friends.
In 1982, Garr received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Tootsie, showcasing her incredible talent and versatility as an actress. But towards the end of the 90s, her career began to slow down. In 2002, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which had been affecting her ability to work for some time. She bravely spoke out about her diagnosis in order to raise awareness for the disease.
Garr had been experiencing symptoms for many years and had visited 11 doctors before finally receiving a diagnosis. "I think everybody is scared and frightened when they hear something like that," she shared in an interview with CNN. "That's because there's so much – you know, there's not a lot of information out there about it. And a lot of people don't know that it's not that bad. I mean, I'm going on with my life."
Garr leaves behind her daughter Molly and grandson Tyryn. Her legacy as a talented and beloved actress will surely live on. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you.
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