Teri Garr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teri Garr
Garr, c. 1978
Born	Terry Ann Garr (1944-12-11)December 11, 1944 Lakewood, Ohio, U.S. or Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	October 29, 2024(2024-10-29) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	North Hollywood High School
Alma mater	Actors Studio Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1963–2011
Known for	Young Frankenstein Oh, God! Close Encounters of the Third Kind Tootsie Mr. Mom Star Trek "Assignment: Earth"
Spouse(s)	John O'Neil ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 1996)​
Partner(s)	Roger Birnbaum (1979–1983) David Kipper (1983–1990)
Children	1

Teri Garr (born Terry Ann Garr; December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was a famous American actress. She was well-known for her funny roles in movies and TV shows. Her career lasted for over 40 years, and she appeared in more than 140 films and television programs. She was even nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for her acting.

Teri Garr grew up in North Hollywood, California. Her father was a comedian and actor, and her mother worked with costumes for movies. When she was young, Teri trained a lot in ballet and other types of dance. She started acting as a teenager in the early 1960s, often appearing as a dancer. She even danced in six movies starring Elvis Presley! Later, she studied acting in New York City. Her big break came in 1968 with a role in the TV show Star Trek.

She became very popular for her roles in movies like Young Frankenstein (1974), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Tootsie (1982). For Tootsie, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also starred in the family movie Mr. Mom (1983). Teri Garr was a favorite guest on late-night talk shows because of her quick humor. In 2002, she shared that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a health condition that affected her ability to act. She stopped acting in 2011.

Early Life and Training

Teri Garr was born on December 11, 1944. She spent her early years in Lakewood, Ohio, a town near Cleveland. Her father, Eddie Garr, was a vaudeville performer, comedian, and actor. Her mother, Phyllis Lind Garr, was a dancer and worked as a costume designer. Teri had two older brothers, Ed and Phil. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California, when she was young.

When Teri was 11, her father passed away. This was a difficult time for her family. Teri remembered how strong her mother was, working hard to support her three children and help them go to college. From a young age, Teri loved dancing. She trained in ballet for many hours each day, working very hard. She went to North Hollywood High School and then attended college for two years. After that, she moved to New York City to study acting at famous schools like the Actors Studio.

Starting Her Acting Career

When Teri Garr first started acting, she sometimes used different names like Terri Garr or Teri Hope. Her very first movie role was as an extra in A Swingin' Affair in 1963. During her last year of high school, she joined a play called West Side Story. There, she met David Winters, who became her dance teacher and friend. He helped her get roles in many early movies and projects.

Teri began her career mostly as a dancer in movies and TV shows. She appeared in six movies with Elvis Presley, including Viva Las Vegas. She also made appearances on TV shows like Batman in 1966 and The Andy Griffith Show in 1968.

Garr on Late Night with David Letterman in 1982

Her first speaking role in a movie was a small part in Head (1968), a film by The Monkees. She got this role after meeting the writer, Jack Nicholson, in an acting class. Earlier that year, she got a bigger TV role as Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth". This was a very important step for her career. She said that after Star Trek, she finally started getting "real acting work."

In 1972, she became a regular cast member on The Ken Berry "WOW" Show. After that, she joined The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, where she danced and acted in funny skits.

Becoming a Star in Film and Television

Teri Garr starred in many successful movies in the 1970s. She had a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation (1974). Then, she played Inga, an assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, in Mel Brooks's hilarious comedy Young Frankenstein (1974). This role was a big breakthrough for her.

She then appeared in a serious role in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), playing the wife of Richard Dreyfuss's character. She also appeared in Oh, God! (1977) and the drama The Black Stallion (1979).

In 1982, she acted alongside Dustin Hoffman in the comedy Tootsie. She played an actress whose friend pretends to be a woman to get acting jobs. For her performance, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She then starred in the comedy Mr. Mom (1983) with Michael Keaton. She also had a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's After Hours (1985).

Later Career and TV Roles

Garr and Hector Elizondo on the set of Perfect Alibi with director Kevin Meyer

Teri Garr was a frequent guest on popular TV talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. She was known for her funny and unplanned conversations with the hosts. She also had roles on many TV series, including McCloud, M*A*S*H, and Friends. In Friends, she played Phoebe Abbott, the birth mother of the character Phoebe Buffay.

In the late 1990s, Teri Garr's career began to slow down. She had been experiencing symptoms for many years, and in 2002, she announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. She continued to appear in smaller roles, such as in the children's film Casper Meets Wendy (1998) and Ghost World (2001). She also provided the voice for Mary McGinnis in the animated series Batman Beyond (1999–2001).

Teri Garr retired from acting in 2011.

Personal Life and Health

In the early 1980s, Teri Garr was in a relationship with film executive Roger Birnbaum. Later, she was in a relationship with a doctor named David Kipper. In 1993, Teri married building contractor John O'Neil. That same year, they adopted their daughter, Molly O'Neil. They divorced in 1996.

In October 2002, Teri Garr publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She decided to share her story to help others who might be going through similar health challenges. She became an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, working to raise awareness and support for people with MS.

In December 2006, Teri Garr had a brain aneurysm, which is a serious medical event. She was in a coma for a week, but after therapy, she was able to speak and move again. She passed away from complications of multiple sclerosis on October 29, 2024, at the age of 79.

Legacy and Impact

Teri Garr is remembered as a "comedic legend." Many performers have said that she inspired them, including actresses like Jenna Fischer and Tina Fey. Her unique humor and talent made her a beloved figure in Hollywood.

Awards and Nominations

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Teri Garr para niños