Actress Terri Garr has died at the age of 79. She died October 29, 2024 of complications from multiple sclerosis.

Garr had a long career in both film and television. The Oscar nominee appeared in Young Frankenstein (`974) as Inga, and in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as Bonnie Neary. She was Maxine in Ghost World (2001) and she played Mom Marge Nelson in Mom and Dad Save the World (1992). In Dr. Franken (1980), Garr played Kelli Fisher. Terri Garr played Witch Fanny in Casper Meets Wendy (1998). Terri Garr co-starred in Oh, God! (1977) as Robbie Landers, the wife of Hohn Denver’s character. She once had an uncredited cameo on the Batman show in the Sixties. In the live action Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (not the animated version) she played Witch Yenta. However, most SciFi.Radio fans will fondly remember her for her 1978 role as Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode “Assignment Earth.”

Born December 11, 1947, Terri Garr originally trained as a dancer. She did this in five Elvis Presley movies. Her first speaking role was in the Monkees movie Head (1968).

Garr’s role as Sandy Lester in Tootsie (1982) brought her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She lost to her own co-star, Jessica Lange, playing Julie Nichols in the same movie.

Terri Garr appeared in six films that were selected by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant: The T.A.M.I.Show (1964),The Conversation (1964), Young Frankenstein (1974), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), The Black Stallion (1979), and Tootsie (1982).

From the Sixties to 2011, she had a long and active career, first as a dancer, then in comedy. Eventually, she became typecast playing various people’s mothers. For example, Alec’s mother in The Black Stallion, Phoebe’s mother in Friends, and of course, the titular Mom of Mom and Dad Save the World. She played Arlene Lorenzo’s mother in Dick (1999). She was named one of twelve Promising New Actors in 1977. Although she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1998 she lived and worked long enough to live up to that promise.

Voice Work

Terri Garr voiced Mary McGinnis, the mother of Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond. She can be heard in Aloha, Scooby-Doo (2005) with Adam West and Don Ho. She voiced Molly Quinn in Aloha, Scooby-Doo. Two years earlier, for What’s New, Scooby-Doo? she voiced Gandy Gordon. She did one guest shot on King of the Hill, as Laney. She guested on Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. On The Legend of Prince Valiant, she voiced Selena.

Actress Lisa Kudrow called Garr “a comedic acting genius.” Garr played Kudrow’s character’s mother in Friends. They later co-starred in Kabluey (2007).

Awards and Honors

Farr was named one of twelve Promising New Actors in 1977.

She was nominated for three major awards for her role in Tootsie. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress, and also the NSFV Award from the National Society of Film Critics, She had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress previously in 1978, when she received a Saturn Award nomination for her role in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In 1983 she was nominated for a CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Presentation for the Faerie Tale Theatre episode “The Tale of the Frog Prince.” She was the princess. She co-won the NBR Award from the National Board of Review for best acting by an ensemble for Ready to Wear (1994).

It might have seemed Terri Garr was born to succeed as an entertainer, but the truth is she worked very hard for her success. She was born into an entertainment family. Her father was a vaudevillian, and her mother was a dancer who became a wardrobe mistress She spent much of her youth in Hollywood. She trained in classical ballet (although she was best known in the movies as being a go-go dancer, She took every dance and drama class she could find. After leaving college, she went to New York City, where she ttended the famous Lee Strasberg Institute.

Her film debut was as a dancer in Viva Las Vegas(1964). Her final role was as Linsey’s mother in the TV show How to Marry a Billionaire in 2011.

Her television performances ranged from Star Trek (her breakthrough role) to McCloud to Murphy Brown, Sesame Street, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She was a popular guest on late night talk shows, appearing often on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and very often on Late Night with David Letterman. She was a regular on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

Roberta Lincoln on Star Trek was her breakthough role, and led to other roles. “Assignment Earth” was intended as a pilot for a spin-off. Had the network chosen to produce it, her career would’ve been very different. She probably would have become a major TV star, and have been too busy to take the movie roles that showcased her comedic talents.

She was married and divorced once. From 19993 to 1996 she was married to building contractor John O’Neil. They had one daughter, Molly O’Neil. Garr had two older brothers, Philip and Edward.

Terri Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1983. She kept her diagnosis private until 2002, when she decided to share the news with her fans. She served as a National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and National Chair for the Society’s Women Against MS program (WAMS).

To her friends and family, especially her daughter Molly O’Neil, we offer our deepest condolences.