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Teri Garr
Born · December 11, 1944
Died · October 29, 2024 (79 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Lakewood, Ohio, USA
Bio
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.
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self (archive footage)
6.7
2018
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2014
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
8.2
2013
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie'
Self
6.0
2008
Kabluey
Suze
6.0
2007
Expired
Claire's Mother / Aunt Tilde
5.7
2007
Unaccompanied Minors
Aunt Judy / Valerie’s Sister
5.9
2006
Legends
Inga (archive footage) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
5.0
2006
A Taste Of Jupiter
4.2
2005
The Wiki-Tiki Tail of Aloha Scooby-Doo
Herself
0.0
2005
Aloha Scooby-Doo!
Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
7.1
2005
The Tony Danza Show
Self · (1 episode)
6.1
2004
The Dream Studio
self
0.0
2004
Life with Bonnie
Mrs. Abigail Portinbody · (1 episode)
6.5
2002
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Sandy Gordon (voice) · (1 episode)
7.9
2002
Searching for Debra Winger
Self
6.3
2002
Life Without Dick
Madame Hugonaut
3.8
2002
Ghost World
Maxine (uncredited)
7.1
2001
The Sky is Falling
Mona Hall
8.0
2001
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self
6.9
2001
The Wandering Soul Murders
Tess Malone
5.0
2001
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Mary McGinnis (voice)
7.3
2000
Strong Medicine
Mimi Stark · (1 episode)
7.1
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Minerva Grahame-Bishop · (1 episode)
7.9
1999
Dick
Helen Lorenzo
5.9
1999
Half a Dozen Babies
Lee Dilley
5.5
1999
Kill the Man
Mrs. Livingston
5.4
1999
Batman Beyond: The Movie
Mary McGinnis (voice)
7.2
1999
Batman Beyond
Mary McGinnis (voice) · (3 episodes)
8.1
1999
Felicity
Dr. Zwick · (1 episode)
6.5
1998
Casper Meets Wendy
Fanny
6.0
1998
The Weird Al Show
(1 episode)
6.5
1997
A Simple Wish
Rena
5.5
1997
The Definite Maybe
Dionne Waters
0.0
1997
Changing Habits
Connie
1.3
1997
NightScream
Julie Ordwell
3.6
1997
Ronnie and Julie
Elizabeth Monroe
1.0
1997
Murder Live!
JoAnn McGrath
5.7
1997
King of the Hill
Laney (voice) · (1 episode)
7.3
1997
Michael
Judge Esther Newberg
5.7
1996
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Yenta · (1 episode)
7.8
1996
Men Behaving Badly
Carol · (1 episode)
5.5
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
3.5
1996
Double Jeopardy
Cindy Dubroski
5.7
1996
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Inga (archive footage)
8.5
1996
Shining Time Station: One of the Family
Sister Conductor
0.0
1995
Perfect Alibi
Laney Tolbert
3.5
1995
Women of the House
Sissy Emerson · (13 episodes)
6.0
1995
Prêt-à-Porter
Louise Hamilton
5.2
1994
Dumb and Dumber
Helen Swanson
6.6
1994
Friends
Phoebe Sr. · (3 episodes)
8.4
1994
ER
Celinda Randlett · (1 episode)
7.8
1994
Aliens for Breakfast
Mrs. Bickerstaff
3.0
1994
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert
Brita Burrows
4.0
1993
Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
4.5
1993
Frasier
Nancy (voice) · (1 episode)
7.7
1993
Good Advice
Paige Turner · (13 episodes)
6.0
1993
Mom and Dad Save the World
Marge Nelson
4.9
1992
Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View
Susan Woolley
10.0
1992
The Player
Teri Garr
7.2
1992
Adventures in Wonderland
Duchess · (6 episodes)
8.2
1992
Robert Altman's Players
Self
5.5
1992
Stranger in the Family
Randi Thompson
5.4
1991
Good & Evil
(11 episodes)
6.0
1991
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic
Self
7.5
1991
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder
Marsha Pegler
5.5
1990
Dream On
Sandra McCadden · (2 episodes)
6.9
1990
Waiting for the Light
Kay
6.5
1990
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Jill (of Jack and Jill)
4.8
1990
Short Time
Carolyn Simpson
6.4
1990
Let It Ride
Pam
6.3
1989
Tales from the Crypt
Irene Paloma · (1 episode)
8.0
1989
Out Cold
Sunny
5.9
1989
Full Moon in Blue Water
Louise
6.2
1988
Jackie Gleason: The Great One
Self
8.0
1988
Flapjack Floozie
Helen Eagles
0.0
1988
Paul Reiser: Out on a Whim
Self
0.0
1987
Pack of Lies
Helen Schaefer
6.6
1987
Fresno
Talon Kensington · (5 episodes)
6.4
1986
Miracles
Jean
5.0
1986
Intimate Strangers
Sally Bierston
0.0
1986
After Hours
Julie
7.5
1985
The History of White People in America
Self
6.2
1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
8.0
1985
Firstborn
Wendy
5.9
1984
Steve Martin: Homage to Steve
Self
6.4
1984
To Catch a King
Hannah Winter
4.0
1984
The Winter of Our Discontent
Mary Hawley
4.0
1983
Mr. Mom
Caroline
6.6
1983
The Black Stallion Returns
Alec Ramsay's Mother
6.4
1983
Do It Debbie's Way
Self
0.0
1983
The Sting II
Veronica
4.6
1983
Tootsie
Sandy Lester
7.2
1982
The Tale of the Frog Prince
Princess
6.1
1982
Faerie Tale Theatre
Self · (1 episode)
8.2
1982
Faerie Tale Theatre
Princess · (1 episode)
8.2
1982
The Escape Artist
Arlene
6.1
1982
Wogan
Self · (1 episode)
4.5
1982
One from the Heart
Frannie
5.9
1982
Prime Suspect
Amy McCleary
6.6
1982
Honky Tonk Freeway
Ericka
5.1
1981
Inside the Coppola Personality
Self
7.0
1981
Rendez-Vous Video Magazine
Self (segment "Coppola")
5.0
1981
Witches' Brew
Margaret Lightman
4.4
1980
Doctor Franken
Kelli Fisher
2.0
1980
The Black Stallion
Alec's Mother
7.0
1979
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Self
5.2
1979
Java Junkie
Waitress
0.0
1979
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Ronnie Neary
7.4
1977
Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary
Self
0.0
1977
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm
Frog Princess
0.0
1977
Oh, God!
Bobbie Landers
6.5
1977
The Absent-Minded Waiter
Susan Cates
6.5
1977
Bitte umblättern
Self · (1 episode)
6.0
1977
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Fluffy Peters
4.1
1976
Law and Order
Rita Wasinski
0.0
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (2 episodes)
6.9
1975
Young Frankenstein
Inga
7.9
1974
The Conversation
Amy Fredericks
7.5
1974
The Girl with Something Extra
Amber · (22 episodes)
7.5
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (1 episode)
6.3
1973
M*A*S*H
Lt. Suzanne Marquette · (1 episode)
7.9
1972
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Wife/Singer · (1 episode)
6.2
1971
Summertree
Bennie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
5.7
1971
The Odd Couple
Insurance Agent · (1 episode)
7.8
1970
The Moonshine War
Young Wife
5.8
1970
McCloud
Sgt. Phyllis Norton · (1 episode)
7.1
1970
You Haven't Changed a Bit
Corinne
0.0
1970
Changes
Waitress
5.0
1969
Head
Testy True
6.1
1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
Cashier · (1 episode)
5.7
1968
Maryjane
Teri
3.5
1968
Clambake
Dancer (uncredited)
5.9
1967
The Mothers-in-Law
Usherette · (1 episode)
6.0
1967
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk
Susie
6.0
1967
The Cool Ones
Whiz Girl
4.9
1967
For Pete's Sake
6.0
1966
Star Trek
Roberta Lincoln · (1 episode)
8.0
1966
That Girl
(2 episodes)
6.1
1966
Where's the Bus?
Girl
0.0
1966
Red Line 7000
Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
5.3
1965
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Harem Girl (uncredited)
3.4
1965
The T.A.M.I. Show
Self - Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)
8.0
1964
Pajama Party
Pajama Girl
5.0
1964
Roustabout
Carnival Dancer (uncredited)
5.9
1964
Shindig!
Self - Dancer · (4 episodes)
6.2
1964
What a Way to Go!
Shipboard Number Dancer (uncredited)
6.9
1964
Kissin' Cousins
Hillbilly Dancer (uncredited)
4.7
1964
Viva Las Vegas
Dancer (uncredited)
6.2
1964
Fun in Acapulco
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
5.9
1963
A Swingin' Affair
6.0
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (4 episodes)
7.4
1962
The Andy Griffith Show
Girl In A Red Convertible · (1 episode)
7.6
1960
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (2 episodes)
6.8
1944