As observed from the image below, Teri Garr, known worldwide for films such as “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie” for which she received an Oscar nomination, sadly passed away at the age of 79 on Tuesday due to a prolonged battle against multiple sclerosis. Her joyful personality and comedic prowess resonated with millions, making her an inspiration to comedians like Tina Fey. Well established in the decades of the 70s, 80s and 90s, she revealed her diagnosis of MS in 2002 and experienced an aneurysm in 2006.
Starting her journey as a dancer, she quickly garnered attention as Inga, the flirtatious assistant in Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” with the iconic dialogue, "Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?" Additionally, she played Phoebe Abbott in three episodes of the ever-popular sitcom “Friends,” during 1997 and 1998.
In Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Garr played Richard Dreyfuss’ wife. Her Oscar-nominated role in “Tootsie”, was opposite Dustin Hoffman as his actress companion. And in “Mr. Mom,” she brilliantly depicted the role of the working mother to Michael Keaton’s house husband.
Raised in Ohio, she migrated to Los Angeles, completing her high school education at North Hollywood High School. After attaining her graduation, Garr continued her academic journey by pursuing a degree at Cal State Northridge before going off to New York to study acting. Initially serving as a go-go dancer, audiences see her as a backup dancer in six of the Elvis Presley movies, most of them coordinated by her mentor, David Winters. She was also part of “The T.A.M.I. Show,” a filmed rock concert. Besides, during the 1960s, she had appearances on sitcoms like “That Girl,” “Batman,” and “The Andy Griffith Show.”
The turning point of Garr’s career came with her debut dialogues in the oddball feature film by the Monkees, “Head,” written by Jack Nicholson, who she knew from an acting class. As seen on “Star Trek”’s episode “Assignment Earth,” she portrayed a scatterbrained secretary, which was a prelude to a long line of similar roles.
Her versatile acting and dancing skills led to an engagement with “The Sonny and Cher Show,” which subsequently led her to her role in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation.” Coppola retained Garr for “One From the Heart,” which added him to the long list of distinguished directors she had worked with, including Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, Steven Spielberg, and Sydney Pollack. She also played significant roles in hit TV shows, such as “MAS*H,” “The Odd Couple,” and “The Bob Newhart Show.”
In a forthright and feminist interview with the A.V. Club in 2008, she revealed her thoughts on the sexism prevalent in the industry. She claims she was often typecast as the “long-suffering wife” in films, for the industry fears writing parts for women who are smart, funny, or witty. Garr ended up taking on these roles, which she felt contributed to the sexism she experienced. Despite her proven abilities and appeal to celebrated directors, she often found her professional experiences replete with prejudice, such as disparities in pay on “The Sonny and Cher Show”.
Alongside her acting career, she showed a flair for hosting shows, with three “Saturday Night Live” shows under her belt. She frequently appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night With David Letterman.”
By the late 1990s, her career began to slow down, but she continued her commitment with small roles in films like “Dick” and “Unaccompanied Minors.” She voiced Mary McGinnis in two Batman animated films, “Batman Beyond: The Movie” and “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.” In 2006, she wrote an autobiography entitled, “Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood.”
She leaves behind her daughter, Molly O’Neil, and grandson Tyryn after her passing.
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Credit: variety.com
