Teri Garr, an actress best known for her roles in “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie,” has died after a long struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The comic star died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, more than two decades after she initially revealed her MS diagnosis, which she described extensively in her autobiography, “Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood.”
She also suffered an aneurysm in 2006, and five years later, in 2011, she retired from acting entirely.
Teri was a well-known performer before her illness, with approximately 150 credits earned over a 40-year career.
Teri was born in Lakewood, Ohio, but grew up in the Los Angeles area of North Hollywood, where her father was a comedian and actress and her mother worked as a studio costumer.
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Teri began her career as a dancer, performing in six Elvis Presley musicals before becoming well-known for her humorous parts.
She eventually switched to acting, gaining her big break from a 1968 episode of “Star Trek.”
Teri then went on to star in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 thriller “The Conversation,” Mel Brooks’ aforementioned 1974 comedy “Young Frankenstein,” and Steven Spielberg’s 1977 sci-fi classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
However, her performance as Sydney Pollack alongside Dustin Hoffman’s titular character in “Tootsie” won her an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress.
Other notable credits include: “Mr. Mom,” “After Hours,” “One from the Heart,” “The Player,” “MAS*H,” “The Odd Couple,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Friends,” and others.
Teri is survived by her daughter Molly, whom she adopted with her former spouse John O’Neil.
She was 79.
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