Teri Garr
Terry Ann Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024), known as Teri Garr, was an American actress. She frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spanned four decades and includes over 140 credits in film and television. Her accolades include an Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and a National Board of Review Award. Garr was raised primarily in North Hollywood, California. She was the third child of a comedic-actor father and a studio costumer mother. In her youth, Garr trained in ballet and other forms of dance. She began her career as a teenager with small roles in television and film in the early 1960s, including appearances as a dancer in six Elvis Presley musicals. After spending two years attending college, Garr left Los Angeles, and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. Her self-described "big break" as an actress was landing a role in the 1968 Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth" after which she said, "I finally started to get real acting work.": 61–64 Garr gained prominence for her roles in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation (1974), Mel Brooks's comedy Young Frankenstein (1974), and in 1977 both Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Carl Reiner's Oh, God!. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Sydney Pollack comedy Tootsie (1982). She reunited with Coppola in a role in his musical One from the Heart (1982), starred opposite Michael Keaton in the family film Mr. Mom (1983), and acted in Martin Scorsese's black comedy After Hours (1985). Garr's quick wit and charming banter made her a sought-after guest on late-night shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. In the 1990s, she appeared in two films by Robert Altman: The Player (1992) and Prêt-à-Porter (1994), and in Dumb and Dumber (1994), followed by supporting roles in Michael (1996) and Ghost World (2001). She also appeared on television as Phoebe Abbott in three episodes of the sitcom Friends (1997–98). In 2002, Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had affected her ability to perform beginning in the 1990s. She retired from acting in 2011.
What was Teri Garr's early life like?
Terry Ann Garr was born on December 11, 1944, and spent her early childhood in Lakewood, Ohio, a suburb near Cleveland. Her father, Eddie Garr (originally Edward Leo Gonnoud), was a vaudeville performer, comedian, and actor who reached the pinnacle of his career when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama "Tobacco Road." Her mother, Phyllis Lind Garr (nee Emma Schmotzer), had a diverse career as a dancer, Rockette, wardrobe mistress, and model. While her father was of Irish descent, her maternal grandparents were Austrian immigrants. Garr grew up with two older brothers named Ed and Phil. After living for a time in Cleveland, the family moved to New Jersey briefly before settling in Los Angeles. At age 11, Garr faced the tragedy of losing her father to a heart attack in Los Angeles. Reflecting on this period, she remembered how his passing left the family without financial support and admired her mother's resilience: "I saw my mother be this incredibly strong, creative woman who put three kids through college — one of my brothers is a surgeon." She recalled that they often relied on scholarships for any lessons they wanted and learned to work hard from an early age. Garr developed an interest in dancing during her youth and committed herself to ballet training with great dedication: "I'd go for three or four hours a day; my feet would be bleeding," she mentioned. "I'd take buses all over the city just to go to the best dancing schools." After graduating from North Hollywood High School, she attended San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge) for two years before moving to New York City to pursue acting more seriously. In New York City, she honed her craft by studying at both the Actors Studio and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
What has Teri Garr's career journey been like?
What were Teri Garr's early films and stage performances?
Early in her career, she was credited under various names, including Terri Garr, Terry Garr, Teri Hope, and Terry Carr. Her first film appearance was as an extra in "A Swingin' Affair" (1963). During her senior year of high school, she auditioned for the Los Angeles road company production of "West Side Story," where she met David Winters, a pivotal figure in her early career. Winters became her friend, dance teacher, and mentor, casting her in many of his early films and projects. Garr started as a background go-go dancer in uncredited roles for youth-oriented films and TV shows choreographed by Winters. These included "Pajama Party" (a beach party film), "The T.A.M.I. Show," "Shindig!," "Shivaree," "Hullabaloo," "Movin' with Nancy," and six Elvis Presley movies—many of which were choreographed by Winters—including Presley's highly successful film "Viva Las Vegas." When asked how she secured roles in numerous Presley films during a magazine interview, Garr explained that one of the dancers from the road show of West Side Story (David Winters) began choreographing movies. Whenever he got a job, she was among the girls he hired. Thus, when he was chosen to work on Viva Las Vegas, it became her first movie opportunity. During this period, Garr frequently appeared on television as a go-go dancer on various musical variety shows alongside her friend Toni Basil. Shows like Shindig! and Hullabaloo featured her performances. In 1966, Garr made an uncredited appearance on Batman (episode seven). By 1968, she had guest roles on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D., as well as appearing in two episodes of It Takes a Thief.
How has Teri Garr achieved critical acclaim in film and television?
Her first speaking role in a film was a brief appearance as a damsel in distress in The Monkees' movie *Head* (1968), penned by Jack Nicholson. Garr secured the part after meeting Nicholson in an acting class. Reflecting on the experience, she said, "He wrote the script for *Head*, so all of us in the class got little tiny parts in the movie. I was... Who was I? Oh yes, I was the girl dying of a snakebite, who falls off the Conestoga wagon and says, 'Quick, suck it before the venom reaches my heart!' " Earlier that year, she took on her first significant TV role as secretary Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth," intended as a backdoor pilot for a new series that never materialized. Garr shared in her memoir, "Star Trek was the first job where I had a fairly big (for me) speaking part. I played Roberta Lincoln, a dippy secretary in a pink and orange costume with a very short skirt. Had the spin-off succeeded, I would have continued on as an earthling agent working to preserve humanity. In a very short skirt." This led to her being typecast as ditzy characters in other TV show episodes. In 1972, she secured a regular spot on The Ken Berry "WOW" Show, which aired as a summer replacement series. Following this, she became a regular cast member on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, performing both dance and comedy sketches. Garr's career soared during the mid-to-late 1970s with roles in several successful films. She featured prominently in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller *The Conversation* (1974) and gained significant attention with her performance as Inga, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein's assistant, in Mel Brooks' horror comedy *Young Frankenstein* (1974). She continued to build her reputation with dramatic roles such as playing Richard Dreyfuss's wife in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977); John Denver’s wife in *Oh God!* (1977); and appearing as the mother of the boy protagonist in *The Black Stallion* (1979). In 1978, Garr ventured off-Broadway to star in David French's play *One Crack Out*, portraying Charlie’s devoted wife amidst his life as a pool hustler in Toronto. Richard Eder of The New York
What were Teri Garr's later work and television appearances?
Garr held a recurring role on the TV series McCloud and made guest appearances on popular shows like M*A*S*H, The Bob Newhart Show, The Odd Couple, Maude, Barnaby Jones, and Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. She hosted Saturday Night Live three times—in 1980, 1983, and 1985—and frequently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. On Late Night with David Letterman, Garr became known for her lively unscripted exchanges with David Letterman. In one memorable instance, Letterman persuaded her to shower in his office while being filmed. He later apologized to Garr for these requests after realizing they might have been inappropriate. In 1986, she guest-starred as Amelia Adams in episode 2223 of Sesame Street, attending Oscar the Grouch's school. By 1989, she had a role opposite Richard Dreyfuss in Let It Ride. Moving into the late '90s, Garr secured a recurring part as Phoebe Abbott on Friends—portraying the estranged biological mother of Phoebe Buffay. Her career began to decelerate toward the end of the '90s after discovering that long-standing symptoms were due to multiple sclerosis. Despite this diagnosis, she continued acting in smaller roles: she played a witch in Casper Meets Wendy (1998) and Michelle Williams' mother in the comedy Dick (1999). She also had an uncredited appearance in Terry Zwigoff’s film Ghost World (2001) and lent her voice to Mary McGinnis in Batman Beyond from 1999 to 2001. In fall 2000, Garr returned to the stage with numerous off-Broadway performances of The Vagina Monologues alongside Sanaa Lathan and Julianna Margulies. Later film roles included supporting parts in Unaccompanied Minors (2006) and independent comedies Expired and Kabluey (both released in 2007).
Has Teri Garr Retired?
In 2006, Garr released her autobiography, *Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood*, where she shared insights into her career and her battle with multiple sclerosis. On December 9, 2009, she humorously recounted a personal story titled "Wake Up Call" on The Moth Radio Hour. Her final television appearance was in 2011, the same year she decided to step away from acting. In 2012, she made a public appearance at the 19th Annual Race to Erase MS event. It wasn't until 2019 that it became widely known that Garr had retired from acting in 2011.
What aspects of Teri Garr's personal life are noteworthy?
During the early 1980s, Teri Garr was in a seven-year relationship with film executive Roger Birnbaum. Following their separation, she entered another seven-year relationship with David Kipper, a physician introduced to her by Carrie Fisher. In 1993, Garr married building contractor John O'Neil. That same November, they welcomed their adopted daughter, Molly O'Neil. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. In July 1990, a Los Angeles County judge issued a restraining order against a woman accused of stalking Garr. The order mandated that the woman avoid any contact with Garr and maintain a distance of at least 100 yards (91 meters) from her residence and work locations for three years.
What illness did Teri Garr experience, and how did it impact her life?
In October 2002, Teri Garr publicly announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis after years of uncertainty and secrecy regarding her condition. She decided to share her story to help others feel less isolated and to spread awareness about the available treatment options that offer hope. During interviews, Garr revealed that she first experienced symptoms while filming "Tootsie" in New York around 1982. Following her disclosure, she took on the role of National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and served as National Chair for the Society's Women Against MS program (WAMS). In recognition of her efforts, she was named the society’s Ambassador of the Year in November 2005. That year, she also spoke about her treatment routine, which involved regular steroid injections to manage her symptoms. By 2015, Closer reported that she attributed much of her strength in battling the disease to maintaining a positive outlook and having strong family support. In December 2006, Garr suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm that placed her in a coma for a week. Through therapy, she successfully regained her speech and motor skills. She later appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" in 2008 to promote "Expired," a film released in 2007 where she portrayed one half of a twin duo. Teri Garr passed away at age 79 on October 29, 2024, at her Los Angeles home due to complications related to multiple sclerosis.
How has Teri Garr been involved in political activism?
In March 1988, Garr was taken into custody for trespassing in Mercury, Nevada, while protesting against nuclear weapons testing. Additionally, she has been involved in activities supporting The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.
What is Teri Garr's legacy?
Garr has earned the reputation of a "comedic legend." In 1982, renowned film critic Pauline Kael described her as "the funniest neurotic dizzy dame on the screen." Many performers, such as Jenna Fischer and Tina Fey, have acknowledged her influence on their work.
What are the key works and contributions in Teri Garr's bibliography?
The section titled "Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood, 2006" discusses the various challenges and experiences encountered in the fast-paced world of Hollywood during that year. It explores the ups and downs faced by those navigating the entertainment industry, highlighting both personal stories and broader trends. The narrative captures a sense of momentum and urgency as individuals strive to succeed amidst an ever-changing landscape.
What are the key achievements and contributions of Teri Garr throughout her career?
Eichenbaum, Rose (2011). *The Actor Within: Intimate Conversations with Great Actors*. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 978-0-819-57165-6. Garr, Teri (2006). *Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood*. New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-452-28571-2. Hellmann, Paul T. (2006). *Historical Gazetteer of the United States*. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-94858-0. Leszcak, Bob (August 23, 2014). *The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide*. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-61539-4. Lisanti, Thomas (2015). *Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969*. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-60142-7. Willis, John (2005). *Screen World*, Vol. 55. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-557-83638-0.