Lisa Kudrow has remembered her on-screen mom, Teri Garr, following the Hollywood legend’s death at the age of 79.
News of Garr’s death was confirmed by her publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, who shared the news that Garr had died on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles following a prolonged battle with multiple sclerosis.
An Academy Award-nominated actress known for her incredible performances in movies like Young Frankenstein and Tootsie, younger audiences may recognize Garr best for her role in the insanely popular TV sitcom Friends.
During her time on the show, Garr played Phoebe Abbott – the birth mother of Phoebe and Ursula Buffay.
Making her first appearance at the climax of season three in the episode, ‘The One at the Beach’, Abbott returned for the season four episodes ‘The One with the Jellyfish’ and ‘The One with Phoebe’s Uterus’.
Garr was an immediate fan-favorite with Friends viewers, with both her looks, mannerisms, and comedic timing making her a truly inspired casting choice as Kudrow’s mother.
Following news of Garr’s heartbreaking death, Kudrow has issued a statement remembering her on-screen mom.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the Friends star said: “Teri Garr was a comedic acting genius who was and is a huge influence on me and I know I’m not alone in that.
“I feel so lucky and grateful I got to work with Teri Garr.”
Born on December 11, 1944, in Lakewood, Ohio, Garr’s journey to stardom 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.
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.
The 1980s brought further success for Garr with her acclaimed performance in Tootsie, alongside Dustin Hoffman, earning her an Academy Award nomination.
Garr continued to charm audiences in films like Mr. Mom, After Hours, and A Simple Wish.
Sadly, the actress encountered several health battles over the last two decades.
In 2002, Garr bravely shared her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis on CNN with Larry King, having battled the condition in secret for years.
Then, in 2006, Garr suffered a brain aneurysm, which left her in a coma for a week.
However, following a miraculous recovery, she briefly returned to the acting scene before retiring in 2011. Her final role was in the TV movie How To Marry a Billionaire.
Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, 30, and her six-year-old grandson, Tyryn.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Garr’s family, friends, and fans at this time.
