Teri Garr
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Teri Ann Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was an American actress, dancer and singer. She frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spanned four decades and includes over 140 credits in film and television. Her accolades include one Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and one National Board of Review Award. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Garr was raised in North Hollywood. She was the third child of a comedic-actor father and a studio costumer mother. In her youth, Garr trained in ballet and other forms of dance. She began her career as a teenager with small roles in television and film in the early 1960s, including appearances as a dancer in six Elvis Presley musicals. After spending two years attending college, Garr left Los Angeles and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. Her self-described "big break" as an actress was landing a role in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth," after which she said, "I finally started to get real acting work." Garr had a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller "The Conversation" (1974) before having her film breakthrough as Inga in "Young Frankenstein" (1974). In 1977, she was cast in a high-profile role in Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Garr continued to appear in various high-profile roles throughout the 1980s, including supporting parts in the comedies "Tootsie" (1982), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Sandra Lester, and then appearing opposite Michael Keaton the next year in "Mr. Mom" (1983). She reunited with Coppola the same year, appearing in his musical "One from the Heart" (1982), followed by a supporting part in Martin Scorsese's black comedy "After Hours" (1985). Her quick banter led to Garr being a regular guest on "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson and "Late Night with David Letterman." In the 1990s, she appeared in two films by Robert Altman: "The Player" (1992) and "Prêt-à-Porter" (1994), followed by supporting roles in "Michael" (1996) and "Ghost World" (2001). She also appeared on television as Phoebe Abbott in three episodes of the sitcom "Friends" (1997–98). In 2002, Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had negatively affected her ability to perform beginning in the 1990s. After years of declining health, she passed away on October 29, 2024.
Known for
Credits
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
as Helen Swanson
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
as Ronnie Neary
Young Frankenstein (1974)
as Inga
The Player (1992)
as Teri Garr
After Hours (1985)
as Julie
The Conversation (1974)
as Amy Fredericks
Tootsie (1982)
as Sandy Lester
Mr. Mom (1983)
as Caroline
Prêt-à-Porter (1994)
as Louise Hamilton
The Black Stallion (1979)
as Alec's Mother
Michael (1996)
as Judge Esther Newberg
Ghost World (2001)
as Maxine (uncredited)
Dick (1999)
as Helen Lorenzo
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
as Mary McGinnis (voice)
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
as Dancer (uncredited)
A Simple Wish (1997)
as Rena
Aloha Scooby-Doo! (2005)
as Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
as Aunt Judy (uncredited)
One from the Heart (1982)
as Frannie
Pajama Party (1964)
as Pajama Girl
Head (1968)
as Testy True
Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
as Fanny
Let It Ride (1989)
as Pam
Kabluey (2007)
as Suze
Oh, God! (1977)
as Bobbie Landers
Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999)
as Mary McGinnis (voice)
The Sting II (1983)
as Veronica
Double Jeopardy (1996)
as Cindy Dubroski
What a Way to Go! (1964)
as Shipboard Number Dancer (uncredited)
The Black Stallion Returns (1983)
as Alec Ramsay's Mother
Short Time (1990)
as Carolyn Simpson
Clambake (1967)
as Dancer (uncredited)
Summertree (1971)
as Bennie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Red Line 7000 (1965)
as Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
Night of 100 Stars II (1985)
as Self
Searching for Debra Winger (2002)
as Self
The Escape Artist (1982)
as Arlene
Murder Live! (1997)
as JoAnn McGrath
Roustabout (1964)
as Carnival Dancer (uncredited)
Out Cold (1989)
as Sunny
Firstborn (1984)
as Wendy
Kill the Man (1999)
as Mrs. Livingston
The History of White People in America (1985)
as Self
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
as Fluffy Peters
Expired (2007)
as Claire's Mother / Aunt Tilde
Pack of Lies (1987)
as Helen Schaefer
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965)
as Harem Girl (uncredited)
Changing Habits (1997)
as Connie
Prime Suspect (1982)
as Amy McCleary
Waiting for the Light (1990)
as Kay
Kissin' Cousins (1964)
as Hillbilly Dancer (uncredited)
Perfect Alibi (1995)
as Laney Tolbert
The Moonshine War (1970)
as Young Wife
Life Without Dick (2002)
as Madame Hugonaut
The Cool Ones (1967)
as Whiz Girl
Mom and Dad Save the World (1992)
as Marge Nelson
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (2001)
as Self
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video (1979)
as Self
Miracles (1986)
as Jean
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
as Ericka
Maryjane (1968)
as Teri
Full Moon in Blue Water (1988)
as Louise
Steve Martin Live! (1984)
as Self
Witches' Brew (1980)
as Margaret Lightman
Law and Order (1976)
as Rita Wasinski
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)
as Jill (of Jack and Jill)
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm (1977)
as Frog Princess
The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)
as Self - Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)
The Winter of Our Discontent (1983)
as Mary Hawley
To Catch a King (1984)
as Hannah Winter
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic (1991)
as Self
Paul Reiser: Out on a Whim (1987)
as Self
Robert Altman's Players (1992)
as Self
Stranger in the Family (1991)
as Randi Thompson
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein (1996)
as Inga (archive footage)
The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977)
as Susan Cates
NightScream (1997)
as Julie Ordwell
A Colder Kind of Death (2001)
as Tess Malone
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
Jackie Gleason: The Great One (1988)
as Self
The Sky is Falling (2001)
as Mona Hall
Doctor Franken (1980)
as Kelli Fisher
The Tale of the Frog Prince (1982)
as Princess
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped (2018)
as Self (archive footage)
Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary (1977)
as Self
For Pete's Sake (1966)
as MarJean
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder (1990)
as Marsha Pegler
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert (1993)
as Brita Burrows
The Making of 'Tootsie' (1982)
as Self
Changes (1969)
as Waitress
Ronnie and Julie (1997)
as Elizabeth Monroe
Aliens for Breakfast (1994)
as Mrs. Bickerstaff
The Definite Maybe (1997)
as Dionne Waters
Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View (1992)
as Susan Woolley
Flapjack Floozie (1988)
as Helen Eagles
Half a Dozen Babies (1999)
as Lee Dilley
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk (1967)
as Susie
A Taste Of Jupiter (2005)
as Ginnie
Do It Debbie's Way (1983)
as Self
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie' (2008)
as Self
Java Junkie (1979)
as Waitress
Intimate Strangers (1986)
as Sally Bierston
The Dream Studio (2004)
as self
The Wiki-Tiki Tail of Aloha Scooby-Doo (2005)
as Self
Shining Time Station: One of the Family (1995)
as Sister Conductor
Martin Mull Live from North Ridgeville, Ohio (1987)
as Self
Rendez-Vous Video Magazine (1981)
as Self (segment "Coppola")
Inside the Coppola Personality (1981)
as Self
You Haven't Changed a Bit (1970)
as Corinne
A Swingin' Affair (1963)
Actor
Where's the Bus? (1966)
as Girl