• Faith: Christian
• Career: Actress
• Birthday:  December 11, 1944
• Date of Death:  October 29, 2024

Teri Garr was an actress renowned for her frequent roles in comedy. Over the course of her four-decade career, she amassed over 140 film and television credits. Garr's work earned her several honors, including nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award, as well as a National Board of Review Award.

Born on December 11, 1944, in Lakewood, Ohio, Terry Ann Garr was destined for the stage. Her father, Eddie Garr, was a vaudeville performer and actor, while her mother, Phyllis Lind Garr, was a model and dancer. Raised in a household where creativity was nurtured, Garr was inspired by her parents' careers in entertainment, and she began to take an interest in dancing and performing from a young age. Her family moved to Hollywood when she was a child, opening the door to the world of film and television that would eventually define her future.

Teri’s upbringing in the world of entertainment allowed her to explore various creative outlets. She trained as a ballet dancer and, in her teenage years, appeared as a dancer in several Elvis Presley films, including "Viva Las Vegas" (1964). However, acting quickly captured her heart, leading her to pursue the craft more seriously as she grew older.

Garr’s acting career took off in the late 1960s and early 1970s, after she landed small roles on television shows like "Star Trek" and "Batman." Her breakthrough came with her unforgettable portrayal of Inga, the quirky lab assistant, in Mel Brooks’ classic comedy "Young Frankenstein" (1974).

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Garr’s career flourished, as she became a familiar face in both comedies and dramas. Her performance as Sandy Lester, the struggling actress in "Tootsie" (1982), earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Whether playing an exasperated wife in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" or a lighthearted love interest in "Oh, God!," she had a unique gift for embodying a wide array of characters. Other notable films include "Mr. Mom" (1983) and "The Black Stallion" (1979).

Although Teri Garr was a public figure, she kept her personal life relatively private. In 1993, she married contractor John O'Neil, and together they adopted a daughter, Molly, in 1994. Garr embraced motherhood with the same dedication and enthusiasm she brought to her acting career, often mentioning in interviews that being a mother was one of the greatest joys of her life.

Garr and O’Neil’s marriage, however, faced challenges, and the couple divorced in 1996. Despite the end of their marriage, Garr remained deeply committed to her role as a mother. Raising Molly as a single parent, Garr took a step back from her acting career in the late 1990s to focus on her daughter’s upbringing, though she continued to work sporadically in film and television.

In 2002, Teri Garr revealed to the world that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease she had been battling privately for some time. The condition, which affects the central nervous system, began to impact her mobility, but Garr refused to let it define her. Instead, she became an advocate for MS awareness, using her platform to speak openly about the disease and the importance of medical research.

In her later years, Teri Garr largely retreated from the spotlight, focusing on her health and family. On October 29, 2024, Garr passed away at the age of 79 after complications related to her long fight with multiple sclerosis.

Teri Garr's Religious Beliefs

While Garr was not overtly vocal about her religious beliefs, she was raised in a Christian household and often referred to her faith as a source of comfort throughout her life. In interviews, she occasionally mentioned how her belief in God helped her navigate the challenges of her illness and personal struggles. She once noted that her spirituality, though private, was a grounding force that allowed her to maintain perspective and a sense of hope, even during her most difficult moments.

Her sense of humor, she believed, was also deeply connected to her faith. Garr often suggested that laughter was a gift from God, a way to cope with the unpredictability of life. She saw humor as a form of grace, a tool to keep moving forward despite the obstacles life presented.

Garr’s quiet faith, combined with her resilience and optimism, defined the latter part of her life. It gave her the strength to confront her health battles and continue advocating for MS awareness, even as her condition worsened.