Teri Garr
Acting • Born 1944-12-11 – Died 2024-10-29
Biography
Teri Ann Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was an American actress, dancer and singer. 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 one Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and one National Board of Review Award. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Garr was raised in North Hollywood. 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 Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth," after which she said, "I finally started to get real acting work." Garr had a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller "The Conversation" (1974) before having her film breakthrough as Inga in "Young Frankenstein" (1974). In 1977, she was cast in a high-profile role in Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Garr continued to appear in various high-profile roles throughout the 1980s, including supporting parts in the comedies "Tootsie" (1982), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Sandra Lester, and then appearing opposite Michael Keaton the next year in "Mr. Mom" (1983). She reunited with Coppola the same year, appearing in his musical "One from the Heart" (1982), followed by a supporting part in Martin Scorsese's black comedy "After Hours" (1985). Her quick banter led to Garr being a regular guest on "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), 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 negatively affected her ability to perform beginning in the 1990s. After years of declining health, she passed away on October 29, 2024.
Filmography
172 credits
The Conversation
Movie • 1974
Amy Fredericks
Ghost World
Movie • 2001
Maxine (uncredited)
Young Frankenstein
Movie • 1974
Inga
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Movie • 1977
Ronnie Neary
Prêt-à-Porter
Movie • 1994
Louise Hamilton
The Player
Movie • 1992
Teri Garr
Jackie Gleason: The Great One
Movie • 1988
Self
Michael
Movie • 1996
Judge Esther Newberg
After Hours
Movie • 1985
Julie
Viva Las Vegas
Movie • 1964
Dancer (uncredited)
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk
Movie • 1967
Susie
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Movie • 1965
Harem Girl (uncredited)
The Absent-Minded Waiter
Movie • 1977
Susan Cates
Oh, God!
Movie • 1977
Bobbie Landers
Life Without Dick
Movie • 2002
Madame Hugonaut
Short Time
Movie • 1990
Carolyn Simpson
Dumb and Dumber
Movie • 1994
Helen Swanson
The Black Stallion Returns
Movie • 1983
Alec Ramsay's Mother
A Taste Of Jupiter
Movie • 2005
Ginnie
Tootsie
Movie • 1982
Sandy Lester
Mr. Mom
Movie • 1983
Caroline
Mom and Dad Save the World
Movie • 1992
Marge Nelson
Full Moon in Blue Water
Movie • 1988
Louise
One from the Heart
Movie • 1982
Frannie
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Fluffy Peters
The Sting II
Movie • 1983
Veronica
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Movie • 1990
Jill (of Jack and Jill)
Batman Beyond: The Movie
Movie • 1999
Mary McGinnis (voice)
Dick
Movie • 1999
Helen Lorenzo
Honky Tonk Freeway
Movie • 1981
Ericka
A Simple Wish
Movie • 1997
Rena
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Casper Meets Wendy
Movie • 1998
Fanny
The Black Stallion
Movie • 1979
Alec's Mother
Head
Movie • 1968
Testy True
Expired
Movie • 2007
Claire's Mother / Aunt Tilde
Let It Ride
Movie • 1989
Pam
Firstborn
Movie • 1984
Wendy
The Escape Artist
Movie • 1982
Arlene
Paul Reiser: Out on a Whim
Movie • 1987
Self
NightScream
Movie • 1997
Julie Ordwell
Out Cold
Movie • 1989
Sunny
Waiting for the Light
Movie • 1990
Kay
Shining Time Station: One of the Family
Movie • 1995
Sister Conductor
Changing Habits
Movie • 1997
Connie
Changes
Movie • 1969
Waitress
Steve Martin Live!
Movie • 1984
Self
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic
Movie • 1991
Self
Miracles
Movie • 1986
Jean
Perfect Alibi
Movie • 1995
Laney Tolbert
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm
Movie • 1977
Frog Princess
To Catch a King
Movie • 1984
Hannah Winter
Pack of Lies
Movie • 1987
Helen Schaefer
The Dream Studio
Movie • 2004
self
Java Junkie
Movie • 1979
Waitress
Pajama Party
Movie • 1964
Pajama Girl
Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary
Movie • 1977
Self
The History of White People in America
Movie • 1985
Self
The Definite Maybe
Movie • 1997
Dionne Waters
Ronnie and Julie
Movie • 1997
Elizabeth Monroe
You Haven't Changed a Bit
Movie • 1970
Corinne
A Swingin' Affair
Movie • 1963
Roustabout
Movie • 1964
Carnival Dancer (uncredited)
What a Way to Go!
Movie • 1964
Shipboard Number Dancer (uncredited)
Red Line 7000
Movie • 1965
Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
For Pete's Sake
Movie • 1966
MarJean
Witches' Brew
Movie • 1980
Margaret Lightman
Fun in Acapulco
Movie • 1963
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
The Moonshine War
Movie • 1970
Young Wife
Kissin' Cousins
Movie • 1964
Hillbilly Dancer (uncredited)
The Cool Ones
Movie • 1967
Whiz Girl
Clambake
Movie • 1967
Dancer (uncredited)
Summertree
Movie • 1971
Bennie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Maryjane
Movie • 1968
Teri
Where's the Bus?
Movie • 1966
Girl
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert
Movie • 1993
Brita Burrows
The Sky is Falling
Movie • 2001
Mona Hall
The Winter of Our Discontent
Movie • 1983
Mary Hawley
Night of 100 Stars II
Movie • 1985
Self
Stranger in the Family
Movie • 1991
Randi Thompson
Kill the Man
Movie • 1999
Mrs. Livingston
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
Inside the Coppola Personality
Movie • 1981
Self
Double Jeopardy
Movie • 1996
Cindy Dubroski
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Movie • 2000
Mary McGinnis (voice)
The Wiki-Tiki Tail of Aloha Scooby-Doo
Movie • 2005
Self
The Tale of the Frog Prince
Movie • 1982
Princess
Half a Dozen Babies
Movie • 1999
Lee Dilley
Kabluey
Movie • 2007
Suze
Rendez-Vous Video Magazine
Movie • 1981
Self (segment "Coppola")
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Movie • 2001
Self
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie'
Movie • 2008
Self
Aloha Scooby-Doo!
Movie • 2005
Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
Robert Altman's Players
Movie • 1992
Self
Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View
Movie • 1992
Susan Woolley
Murder Live!
Movie • 1997
JoAnn McGrath
Prime Suspect
Movie • 1982
Amy McCleary
Doctor Franken
Movie • 1980
Kelli Fisher
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder
Movie • 1990
Marsha Pegler
Do It Debbie's Way
Movie • 1983
Self
Aliens for Breakfast
Movie • 1994
Mrs. Bickerstaff
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Movie • 1996
Inga (archive footage)
The T.A.M.I. Show
Movie • 1964
Self - Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)
Law and Order
Movie • 1976
Rita Wasinski
Searching for Debra Winger
Movie • 2002
Self
Intimate Strangers
Movie • 1986
Sally Bierston
Flapjack Floozie
Movie • 1988
Helen Eagles
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Movie • 1979
Self
Unaccompanied Minors
Movie • 2006
Aunt Judy (uncredited)
A Colder Kind of Death
Movie • 2001
Tess Malone
Batman Beyond
TV • 1999
Mary McGinnis (voice)
Star Trek
TV • 1966
Roberta Lincoln
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Lt. Suzanne Marquette
Friends
TV • 1994
Phoebe Sr.
Life with Bonnie
TV • 2002
Mrs. Abigail Portinbody
King of the Hill
TV • 1997
Laney (voice)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Minerva Grahame-Bishop
Frasier
TV • 1993
Nancy (voice)
Women of the House
TV • 1995
Sissy Emerson
The Girl with Something Extra
TV • 1973
Amber
Adventures in Wonderland
TV • 1992
Duchess
Good & Evil
TV • 1991
Denise Sandler
Good Advice
TV • 1993
Paige Turner
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Felicity
TV • 1998
Dr. Zwick
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
TV • 1996
Yenta
Intimate Portrait
TV • 1993
Self
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
TV • 1971
Wife/Singer
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Mayberry R.F.D.
TV • 1968
Cashier
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Girl In A Red Convertible
McCloud
TV • 1970
Sgt. Phyllis Norton
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
TV • 1973
Self
Wogan
TV • 1982
Self
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Princess
Fresno
TV • 1986
Talon Kensington
The Tony Danza Show
TV • 2004
Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV • 1996
Self - Guest
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
TV • 2002
Sandy Gordon (voice)
Men Behaving Badly
TV • 1996
Carol
The Weird Al Show
TV • 1997
Teri Garr
Legends
TV • 2006
Inga (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Mothers-in-Law
TV • 1967
Usherette
Dream On
TV • 1990
Sandra McCadden
Shindig!
TV • 1964
Self - Dancer
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Irene Paloma ("segment "The Trap")
Strong Medicine
TV • 2000
Mimi Stark
The Odd Couple
TV • 1970
Insurance Agent
Please Turn the Page
TV • 1977
Self
ER
TV • 1994
Celinda Randlett
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self
Batman
TV • 1966
Girl Outside Rink (uncredited)
Murphy Brown
TV • 1988
Teri Garr
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Maria Thompson
The Bob Newhart Show
TV • 1972
Miss Brennan
Banyon
TV • 1972
Mabel
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
TV • 1971
Waitress
It Takes a Thief
TV • 1968
Maggie Philbin
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
TV • 1995
Teri (voice)
Duckman
TV • 1994
Vanessa La Pert (voice)
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Crumbs
TV • 2006
Lorraine Bergman
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Diner Waitress (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self (uncredited)
The Larry Sanders Show
TV • 1992
Teri Garr
McCloud
TV • 1970
Nora Mullins
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Naomi (uncredited)
That Girl
TV • 1966
Estelle
That Girl
TV • 1966
Actress #1 At Audition (uncredited)
Shindig!
TV • 1964
Self