R.I.P. Teri Garr, legendary actress whose credits include Star Trek and Young Frankenstein

She appeared in Tootsie, Mr. Mom, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more. After a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, she became an ambassador and advocate.

The Everett Collection

Teri Garr, actress, comedian, and ambassador for multiple sclerosis, has passed away.

Garr was born into a show business family, the daughter of an actor and a costumer. She trained in ballet and dance as a youngster before appearing in nine Elvis films, including Viva Las Vegas and Clambake. She also turned up in the Annette Funicello 1964 film, Pajama Party.

Following a string of small roles, often uncredited, in classic shows like Batman, The Andy Griffith Show, and That Girl, Garr appeared in the role that she would consider her "big break": the season two finale episode of Star Trek, "Assignment: Earth".

"Assignment: Earth" was intended as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series that never materialized. In it, the Enterprise travels back to 1968 for historical research, only to encounter an interstellar secret agent named Gary Seven attempting to alter 20th-century history. Garr plays Roberta Lincoln, a secretary to missing agents, who ends up helping Seven with his mission. The potential series would have presumably followed Seven and Lincoln as they completed other missions for the well-being of mankind.

The same year, Garr had her first speaking film role in The Monkees' Head. Appearances on M*A*S*H, The Bob Newhart Show, and more followed.

In 1974, Gene Wilder recommended Garr to Brooks for his upcoming film, Young Frankenstein. Garr landed the part of Inga, the lab assistant to Wilder's Frankenstein, by imitating the accent of Cher's German hairdresser who she had met working on The Sonny & Cher Show. The comedy was a smash hit and became the third highest-grossing film of 1974 in the U.S.

After Frankenstein, Garr's career took off. She starred in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, acted opposite Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom, and portrayed Gene Hackman's girlfriend in The Conversation, among others. Her sole Oscar nomination came from her role in 1982's Tootsie, where she played Dustin Hoffman's actress friend, Sandy.

In 1999, Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which she had been experiencing symptoms of for years. The illness led to her taking fewer and smaller roles, including a recurring role as Phoebe's mother in Friends.

Garr retired from acting in 2011, but continued activism for MS: she served as a national ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and chaired the organization’s Woman Against MS programs.

Garr was 79 years old.

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51 Comments

Snickers 3 days ago
Great actress and person. R.I.P Teri, you will be missed
tootsieg 4 days ago
This one does hurt. Teri Garr gave us so many laughs for many years.
Rest in Peace. 🙏
PDCougar 5 days ago
Teri Garr's hands-down greatest TV role? No question. It was sitting in that chair on the left side of our TV screens every time she appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman."
Spaceseed 5 days ago
Goodbye Ms Garr. Thanks for entertaining us over the years.
Rick 5 days ago
This one really hurt. We'll miss you, Teri.
jacko3 5 days ago
Ms. Teri Garr - a beautiful and talented actress - GOD Rest her Soul & Legacy - Amen - Alleluia!
deltadart 5 days ago
She was Great in Young Frankenstein and the Star Trek: Assignment Earth episode with Robert Lansing.

MeTV - Where is Ron Ely and Jack Jones obituaries?
Let's get with it!
Because almost no one knows Jack Jones or Ron Ely. I only know them because I'm a tv history buff. My dad used to say Ely was a terrible Tarzan.
lots of people don't know much, but the MeTV site should still post the passings of the celebrities in question, maybe they're just running late.
Ron Ely was a somewhat sophisticated Tarzan but still tough! He was also a good foster Father to little Jai.
cperrynaples deltadart 4 days ago
Yes, and it took a month to report Ely's death!
Bapa1 CannonsMustache 4 days ago
They were both pretty well known, Ely hosted a bunch of televised beauty contests later on.
Bapa1 deltadart 4 days ago
Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead?
cperrynaples Bapa1 4 days ago
Fun Fact: Ely was the FIRST Miss America host AFTER Bert Parks! He also hosted Face The Music, a knockoff of Name That Tune!
Snickers deltadart 3 days ago
Wish the Lansing -Garr series would have been picked up. The idea of a earthman being trained on another planet to help mankind was a interesting story plot.
jeffhevk 5 days ago
“Sedagive !?!”
RIP Very talented and a natural beauty.
Runeshaper 5 days ago
R.I.P. Teri Garr. You gave A LOT and I'll never forget you.

Putting the candle back now (-:
Bill55705 5 days ago
When I first saw her. I thought she was so beautiful and funny. She was one of my
. favorite actresses
Ready2go 5 days ago
One of my favorites. RIP Teri. Put the candle back!! Still one of the funniest movies ever. I'm watched it so many times, know the dialogue, and can't laughing before, when I know what is coming.
cperrynaples Ready2go 4 days ago
I believe the full line is "Now listen carefully, put the candle back slowly!" And the laugh came from Wilder being stuck in the wall!
Bapa1 5 days ago
RIP. Always liked her, especially her movie roles. Was wondering if Metv was going to mention her, as some people have passed away recently and not a word. (Phil Lesh of The Dead),etc.
cperrynaples 5 days ago
I remember her as Phoebe's mother on Friends! Funny story: Another actress played the mother and someone complained why Teri wasn't cast since Lisa Kudrow looked so similar! They retrofitted the story to say that Phoebe was adopted and Teri was her REAL mother!
Jacki cperrynaples 4 days ago
I remember that episode.
AgingDisgracefully 5 days ago
I used to use the phrase, "Cuter than Teri Garr."
Until I realized that person didn't exist.
oneofthesedays1 5 days ago
10/30/2024
Phlash Phelps on SiriusXM just told us what Ms. Garr's first line in a motion picture was.

Do you know what it was??
Ask Phlash!!

Michael K
Brandon Mississippi
Well, I know she danced in Elvis movies before speaking in the Monkees movie Head! Considering how weird that film was, I guess her first line was too!
FloridaTopCat 5 days ago
Teri also did 6 episodes of McCloud (Starring Dennis Weaver as the New Mexico policeman sent to work in NYC) in the early 1970's. RIP, Teri!
Yep, I believe she was a NYC street cop! She also did Sonny & Cher!
BradBeall 5 days ago
This truly saddens me. Teri Garr was one of the few actresses in Hollywood that could believably portray innocence and honesty. Her physical beauty was unmatched, and her acting talent was nothing short of world class. Today, the world is a little bit sadder because of her loss. Rest in Peace, Teri. You will be truly missed.
Tresix 6 days ago
I first saw her on S&C’s show. She was the last surviving cast member of “Young Frankenstein”. Here’s hoping that Inga finds her “enormous schwanshtuper(sp)”.
cperrynaples Tresix 5 days ago
And of course, I remember when she asked Gene Wilder if he wanted "a roll in zee hay"! Actually she got her shwang in the closing! We didn't see it because Mel Brooks cut to Marty Feldman in the bell tower,,,LOL!
PS At least she did better than Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles! All she got was Cleavon Little's elbow...LOL!
Tresix cperrynaples 5 days ago
“Aah, sweet mystery of life. At last, I’ve found you”.
cperrynaples Tresix 4 days ago
Sung by both Kahn & Garr! And yes Madeline did get lucky with Peter Boyle!
Tresix cperrynaples 4 days ago
But didn’t Inga get lucky with Fredrick (which is why she was singing the song)?
cperrynaples Tresix 3 days ago
That's what I meant by the shwang! "I know the monster got your brain, but what did you get from him"...LOL!
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