Beloved star of film and television Teri Garr died on October 29 2024 at the age of 79. She had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years ago. Teri Garr had appeared in such movies as Head (1968), Young Frankenstein (1974), and Mr. Mom (1983), and on such TV shows as Star Trek, McCloud, and Friends.
Teri Garr was born on December 11 1944 in Los Angeles. Her father Eddie Garr had been a performer and comedian in vaudeville. Her mother had been a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Teri Garr spent many of her early years in Lakewood, Ohio. Her father died when she was eleven, after which her family moved frequently. Eventually her mother worked in the costume department at NBC.
Teri Garr studied ballet. It was after she graduated from North Hollywood High School that she got a part in a road production of West Side Story. She studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York City, where she first met Jack Nicholson.
Teri Garr began her career primarily as a dancer. She was one of the dancers on Shindig! and also danced on its rival show Hullabaloo. She was also a dancer in the Elvis Presley movies Kissin' Cousins (1964), Viva Las Vegas (1964), Girl Happy (1965), and Clambake (1967). In the Sixties Miss Garr appeared as dancer or in bit parts in such movies as Fun in Acapulco (1963), What a Way to Go! (1964), Pajama Party (1964), T.A.M.I. (1964), Red Line 7000 (1965), and The Cool Ones (1967). She had a brief but very noticeable role in The Monkees' movie Head (1968). She appeared in the movies Changes (1969) and The Moonshine War (1970). On television she guest starred on Mr. Novak, Dr. Kildare, Where the Action Is, Batman, That Girl, The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry R.F.D., Room 222, It Takes a Thief, and McCloud. Her guest appearance on Star Trek, "Assignment Earth," was a backdoor pilot for TV series that did not sell.
In the Seventies Teri Garr had regular or recurring roles on the television shows The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, The Ken Berry "Wow" Show, The Girl with Something Extra, and McCloud. she guest starred on the shows Banyon, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, M*A*S*H, The Odd Couple, Barnaby Jones,. Paul Sands in Friends and Lovers, Cher. Maude, Hunter, and Saturday Night Live. She appeared in the movies The Conversation (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), Oh, God! (1977), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Mr. Mike's Mondo Video (1979), The Black Stallion (1979) and Witches Brew (1980).
In the Eighties Teri Garr appeared in the movies Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), One from the Heart (1982), The Escape Artist (1982), Tootsie (1982), The Sting II (1983), The Black Stallion Returns (1983), Mr. Mom (1983), Firstborn (1984), After Hours (1985), Miracles (1986), Full Moon in Blue Water (1988), Out Cold (1989), Let It Ride (1989), Short Time (1990), and Waiting for the Light. She guest starred on the shows Faerie Tale Theatre, The New Show. Trying Times, Sesame Street, and Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. In 1985 she starred in a retro music video for The Zombies' song "She's Not There."
In the Nineties Teri Garr starred on the short-lived sitcom Good & Evil. She also had a recurring role on the shows Adventures in Wonderland, Good Advice, and Women of the House. She was the voice of Mary McGinnis on the animated series Batman Beyond. She guest starred on the shows Tales from the Crypt, Futures, Dreams On, Murphy Brown, The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier, Men Behaving Badly, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Friends, ER, and I've Got a Secret. She was a guest voice on the animated shows The Legend of Prince Valiant; Duckman; Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist; and King of the Hill. She appeared in the movies The Player (1992), Mom and Dad Save the World (1992), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Perfect Alibi (1995), Michael (1996), Changing Habits (1997), A Simple Wish (1997), No Money Down (1997), Casper Meets Wendy (1998), Kill the Man (1999), Dick (1999), and The Sky is Falling (2000). She reprised her role as the voice of Mary McGinnis in the animated movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000).
In the Naughts Miss Garr appeared in the movies Ghost World (2001), Life Without Dick (2002), A Taste of Jupiter (2005), Unaccompanied Minors (2006), Expired (2007), and Kabluey (2007). She guest starred on Felicity, Strong Medicine, Mad TV, Life with Bonnie, Greetings from Tucson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Crumbs.
I have adored Teri Garr since childhood. And when I was growing up she seemed to be everywhere. I remember her from reruns of the Star Trek episode "Assignment Earth," The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, and movies such as Young Frankenstein and Oh, God!. I am certainly not alone in adoring Teri Garr, as she was a beloved actress. There was an approachability about Teri Garr, a warmth about her, that naturally drew people to her.
Of course, she was also an extremely talented actress, particularly when it came to comedy. When it came to movie roles, she may be best remembered as Inga in Young Frankenstein. Inga was played as a sex symbol although it was obvious Miss Garr was in on the joke. And while she may be best remembered as Inga, Teri Garr played many other roles that were different. She did an Oscar nominated turn as the anxious, high-strung actress Sandy in Tootsie, who has a severe case of imposter syndrome. In Mr. Mom she played Caroline Butler, who returns to the advertising industry after years of being a housewife and mother. In Witches Brew she played the wife of a professor who just happens to practise witchcraft. Teri Garr was an immensely talented actress who was always noticeable, whether in small roles such as in Head or larger role such as One from the Heart.
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