Teri Garr is a celebrity who eventually relied on a wheelchair to get around in her later years due to a diagnosis she managed until her passing. Among the loved ones she left behind is her only child, who grew up aware of her mother’s illness.
On October 29, 2024, Teri Garr’s manager, Marc Gurvitz, announced that the actress had died in Los Angeles. Her passing followed years of living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Here’s a look at her career background and life with MS.
Teri Garr as Roberta Lincoln in the “Star Trek: The Original Series” with a March 29, 1968, air date | Source: Getty Images
Living with MS
The Oscar-nominated star, born on December 11, 1944, was known for her roles in films like 1974’s “Young Frankenstein,” 1977’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” 1982’s “Tootsie,” 1983’s “Mr. Mom,” and others.
Rumors about her having MS started circulating in the late 1990s, though she was officially diagnosed in 1999. It was then she noticed that many in Hollywood hesitated to meet with her about potential acting roles.
A promotional headshot of Teri Garr in the movie “Young Frankenstein,” circa 1974 | Source: Getty Images
Despite her illness, she continued working, though her interviews began to diminish, eventually becoming rare and then nonexistent. In one interview, Teri revealed that people often imagined that a “disabled” person couldn’t walk, talk, or perform everyday tasks.
Her outlook on being disabled eventually changed, with her saying, “Now, I take nothing for granted. But I find the real disability is people who can’t find joy in life and are bitter.” The star, who was 79 when she passed, was candid about her MS diagnosis and went public with it during a 2002 CNN interview.
Teri Garr on “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” on August 9, 1973 | Source: Getty Images
In 2004, she appeared on “Larry King Live” to discuss her condition, explaining that she coped by adjusting her focus. When faced with something she couldn’t do, she instead concentrated on what she could do.
She lived by the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” Teri explained that constantly feeling sad wasn’t an option for her. Even before her diagnosis, the actress, who loved dancing but could no longer do it, would rationalize and remind herself of what she could and couldn’t do.
Teri Garr posing for a photo, circa 1975 | Source: Getty Images
Her resilient outlook was something she inherited from her mother and she often leaned on humor. She recalled one incident at the airport where a man assisting her with a bag noticed she looked injured. When he asked if she’d been in a skiing accident, she disclosed her diagnosis.
The mood shifted, and she realized sharing her diagnosis often saddened and hurt people more than it did her, prompting her to use humor instead. Speaking about her early MS symptoms, she shared that she would sometimes feel a ticking or beeping sensation in her foot while lying in bed.
Teri Garr at Francesco Scavullo’s Book Party on November 15, 1977, at Studio 54 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The sensation would eventually subside, making the disease challenging to diagnose. She also admitted that her symptoms were subtle and varied for everyone. One person who saw her struggles firsthand was her daughter, Molly.
When Molly was 11, Teri tried to help her cope with the diagnosis by dedicating, “top-notch time, [and] my best energy, for her.” Growing up seeing her mother battle the disease, Molly knew she had good and bad days.
Teri and Molly Garr at the premiere of “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” in Hollywood, California, on May 19, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
Teri began showing more symptoms when her daughter was eight, which helped Molly gradually adapt to it as it progressed. The actress believed her illness was a valuable lesson for her daughter, saying, “She really appreciates life, and she’s really kind to people. She’s very compassionate.”
Her child didn’t treat her differently, noting that Teri wasn’t a regular mother but “a Supermom.” In a 2017 interview, the actress clarified that MS wasn’t hereditary but a random occurrence that affects both men and women equally. She also said, “It’s a terrible thing. MS is awful.”
Teri Garr as Marsha Pegler in “A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder” in an undated photo | Source: Getty Images
Over the years, Teri’s transformation was evident, eventually leading to her using a wheelchair for mobility. Here’s a look at her appearances from the 1970s until her passing.
1970s
Teri Garr on “The Sonny Comedy Revue” circa 1974 | Source: Getty Images
Teri Garr in a studio portrait circa 1979 | Source: Getty Images
1980s
Teri Garr posing for a portrait in Los Angeles, California, on September 2, 1983 | Source: Getty Images
A portrait of Teri Garr taken on October 24, 1984, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
1990s
A portrait of Teri Garr as Paige Turner in the sitcom, “Good Advice,” with a premiere broadcast date of April 2, 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Teri Garr during “A Simple Wish” premiere in Universal City, California, on June 29, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
2000s
Teri Garr at the 12th Annual Race to Erase MS Themed “Rock & Royalty to Erase MS” show in Century City, California, on April 22, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Teri Garr as Minerva Grahame-Bishop on season 8 of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” on October 14, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
One significant event for Teri in the 2000s was a near-fatal brain aneurysm. The medical emergency happened in December 2006. After surviving the aneurysm, she went on to star in the movie “Expired.” In the following decade, she began making public appearances in a wheelchair.
2010s
Teri Garr at the Professional Dancers Society’s Gypsy Awards Luncheon on March 24, 2013, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
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Teri Garr at the Chiller Theatre Expo on October 24, 2014, in Parsippany, New Jersey | Source: Getty Images
Mel Brooks, Teri Garr, and Cloris Leachman at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Young Frankenstein” on September 9, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Teri Garr opened up about her MS diagnosis in an interview uploaded on May 25, 2017 | Source: YouTube/Studio 10
Despite the physical changes she endured, fans who heard about Teri’s death and saw a photo of her on Facebook were quick to admire her looks and share condolences. One person wrote, “A talented and beautiful actress. Young Frankenstein role was epic. RIP. [sic]”
Sharing the same sentiments, another admirer described the late star as “A beautiful soul.” Someone else remarked, “Such a beautiful actress & she was so beautiful.”
May Teri Garr, who began her career as a background dancer in Elvis Presley movies, rest in eternal peace.
