Teri Garr has died at the age of 79

Teri Garr has sadly passed away at the age of 79.

Teri Garr has sadly died at the age of 79. Credit: Aaron Rapoport / Getty

A beloved figure in Hollywood known for her vibrant roles in classics like Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, the news was confirmed by the actress’ publicist, Heidi Schaeffer.

Schaeffer confirmed Garr died on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles following a prolonged battle with multiple sclerosis, per the New York Post.

Garr leaves behind a legacy that is both prolific and profound, marked by a career that saw her light up both the big and small screen.

Born on December 11, 1944, in Lakewood, Ohio, Garr’s journey into the limelight began after she moved from Los Angeles to New York, initially working as a go-go dancer and appearing in six projects with Elvis Presley in the 1960s.

The actress will be fondly remembered for her roles on the big and small screens. Credit: Bonnie Schiffman Photography / Getty

Her first speaking role came in 1968 with Head, a film featuring the Monkees and penned by Jack Nicholson.

Garr quickly became a familiar face on television, gracing shows such as Star Trek, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and The New Dick Van Dyke Show. However, it was her role as Inga in Mel Brooks’ 1974 comedy horror Young Frankenstein that catapulted her to stardom.

That same year, she appeared in The Conversation directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and followed it up with a role in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 hit Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Garry alongside Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein. Credit: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection / Getty

The 1980s brought further success for Garr with her acclaimed performance in Tootsie, alongside Dustin Hoffman, earning her an Academy Award nomination.

Reflecting on this milestone in her 2005 memoir, she expressed pride and gratitude for the recognition, saying: “The Academy not only knew I existed, they thought I was good!”

Garr continued to charm audiences in films like Mr. Mom, After Hours, and A Simple Wish.

Garr earned an Academy Award nomination during her illustrious career. Credit: Jim Smeal / Getty

Her television career was equally illustrious, with younger audiences perhaps best recognizing her as Phoebe Buffay’s birth mom in the hit sitcom Friends.

Playing Phoebe Abbott, it truly was a perfect casting, with Lisa Kudrow strongly resembling a young Garr.

In a brave revelation in 2002, Garr shared her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis on CNN with Larry King, having battled the condition in secret for years. She opened up about the advancements in medication, hoping to inspire and uplift others suffering from the disease.

Garr alongside Lisa Kudrow in Friends. Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty

“I think now, the good news is there is a lot of good medicine out there,” she told King. “If I can just help people to feel better.”

Sadly, the star’s health battles continued in 2006 when Garr suffered a brain aneurysm, leaving her in a coma for a week. She miraculously recovered and briefly returned to the acting scene before retiring in 2011.

Her final role was in the TV movie How To Marry a Billionaire.

Garr shared her MS battle in 2002. Credit: Araya Doheny / Getty

The entertainment world remembers Teri Garr not only for her extensive body of work but also for her resilience and her ability to make audiences laugh and cry. Her role as a mother and her later advocacy for multiple sclerosis are as defining of her legacy as her glittering career in show business.

She is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, 30, and her grandson, Tyryn, 6.

Our thoughts go out to Garr’s family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured image credit:  Aaron Rapoport / Getty