Movies

Teri Garr, Renowned Comedy Actor Known for Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, Dies at 79

BBG News

As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for appreciating the resilience and versatility of actors who have weathered the storms of Hollywood, I can confidently say that Teri Garr was an undeniable gem whose radiant talent graced our screens for decades. Her journey from the ballet stage to the big screen, with a brief detour as a background dancer in Elvis Presley movies, is nothing short of extraordinary.

LOS ANGELES – Teri Garr, a versatile comedy actor who transitioned from being an Elvis Presley backup dancer to sharing the screen with stars in beloved films such as ‘Young Frankenstein‘ and ‘Tootsie’, has passed away at the age of 79.

On Tuesday, Garr passed away due to multiple sclerosis, as confirmed by his publicist Heidi Schaeffer. She added that he was surrounded by loved ones when he died. In the past few years, he had been dealing with various health issues and underwent surgery in January 2007 to mend an aneurysm.

Supporters paid tribute to her on social media platforms. Director-writer Paul Feig referred to her as “one of my comedy heroes, whom I adored beyond measure.” Screenwriter Cinco Paul stated that “she never shone as a star, but always brightened whatever she was part of.

Throughout her lengthy acting career, the performer was often known by various names such as Terri, Terry, or Terry Ann. It appeared that she was born to be in the entertainment industry from an early age.

She grew up with Eddie Garr, a renowned vaudeville comedian for a father, and Phyllis Lind, an original high-kicking Rockette from New York’s Radio City Music Hall, as her mother. Starting dance lessons at the age of six, she was dancing with the San Francisco and Los Angeles ballet companies by the time she turned 14.

At the age of 16, she became a part of the touring company for “West Side Story” in Los Angeles. As far back as 1963, she started making appearances in minor roles in movies.

In a 1988 interview, she reminisced about securing the part in “West Side Story.” Following her initial rejection at auditions, she came back the next day wearing different attire and successfully landed the role.

After that, Garr landed regular gigs as a dancer in films, and she was part of the ensemble for nine Elvis Presley movies, which included “Viva Las Vegas”, “Roustabout”, and “Clambake”.

Apart from that, she graced several television programs, such as ‘Star Trek’, ‘Dr. Kildare’, and ‘Batman’. Additionally, she was a prominent dancer on the music show ‘Shindig’, performed at the rock concert T.A.M.I., and was part of ‘The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour’.

Her major movie debut occurred when she played Gene Hackman’s girlfriend in the 1974 suspense film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, titled “The Conversation“. This part opened doors for her, including an opportunity to meet Mel Brooks, who offered her the role of Gene Wilder’s German lab assistant in his 1974 production “Young Frankenstein“, providing she could convincingly portray a character with a German accent.

Once, Cher had a German woman named Renata crafting wigs for her, and Garry picked up her accent from her,” is one way to rephrase it in a natural and easy-to-read manner.

The movie solidified her reputation as a skilled comedian, with the New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael declaring her “the most hilarious neurotic, witty, and bewildered actress on the silver screen.

She secured roles in several films, such as “Oh, God!” alongside George Burns and John Denver, “Mr. Mom” where she was Michael Keaton’s wife, and “Tootsie,” in which she portrayed the character who discovers Dustin Hoffman’s secret of dressing up as a woman to boost his career. In “Tootsse,” she eventually loses out to Jessica Lange for the role of Hoffman’s girlfriend, and that year, Lange won the supporting actress Oscar at the Academy Awards.

Despite primarily recognized for her comedic roles, it’s worth noting that Garr demonstrated an impressive aptitude for drama in films like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “The Black Stallion,” and “The Escape Artist.” This suggests that she was capable of handling these dramatic parts with equal skill.

She once expressed her desire to portray “Norma Rae” and “Sophie’s Choice,” but unfortunately, those opportunities never came her way. However, she found herself often cast in comedic roles instead.

She was naturally adept at impromptu wit, frequently serving as the contrast to David Letterman during his early guest spots on NBC’s “Late Night with David Letterman”.

Frequently appearing together, their friendly banter seemed authentic to some viewers, leading to speculation about a romantic relationship between them. Later on, Letterman acknowledged that these initial appearances significantly contributed to the show’s success.

During those years, Garr started experiencing a faint sensation akin to a gentle buzz or tick in her right leg. This sensation, which originated in 1983, eventually extended to her right arm as well. Despite this, she managed to carry on with her life. However, by 1999, the symptoms had worsened significantly, leading her to seek medical advice. The diagnosis revealed that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis.

For three years Garr didn’t reveal her illness.

In a 2003 interview, she clarified her concern about not securing employment due to her circumstances. She added that when people learn about Multiple Sclerosis (MS), they often react with the belief that the affected individual has only a short time left to live.

Following her company’s IPO, she started serving as a representative for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, delivering amusing speeches at events held in the United States and Canada.

In 2005, I expressed, “You need to discover your balance and go with the flow because it’s challenging when people feel sorry for you.” Explaining to others that I’m doing fine can be exhausting.

Additionally, she persisted with her acting career, featuring on shows such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, “Greetings From Tucson”, “Life With Bonnie”, and numerous other television programs. In the 1990s, she had a short-term recurring role on “Friends” as the character portrayed by Lisa Kudrow’s mother. Garr tied the knot with contractor John O’Neil in 1993. Prior to their divorce in 1996, they adopted a daughter named Molly together.

In her 2005 memoir titled “Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood,” Garr chose to keep her age a private matter and didn’t bring it up in the book.

She shared that individuals in the entertainment industry usually don’t disclose their true ages. She herself, along with my father, never did.” (or)

Growing up, I was actually born in the bustling city of Los Angeles, but that’s not what you’d usually find in biographies; they often list Lakewood, Ohio as my birthplace instead. As my father’s career started to dwindle, we, which included my two elder brothers, had to move in with relatives in the Midwest and East, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Eventually, the family of the Garrs returned to California, specifically the San Fernando Valley, where Teri completed her education at North Hollywood High School and pursued a two-year course in speech and drama at California State University, Northridge.

Garr recalled in 1988 what her father had told his children about pursuing a career in Hollywood.

“Don’t be in this business,” he told them. “It’s the lowest. It’s humiliating to people.”

Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, and a grandson, Tyryn.

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2024-10-30 07:06

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