“Top” Ten Losses of 2024: Teri Garr (#5)

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Before I head out, I give you another person on the list of losses from 2024. This one was pretty painful, because she happened to be in two of my favorite movies. Let’s fondly remember this terrific actor today. #5: Teri Garr From an uncredited extra in NINE Elvis movies to a dancer on The TAMI Show (hey, that made an appearance in a Police song! [“James Brown on The TAMI Show, same tape I’ve had for years”]), Teri Garr started the way most actors do. She worked her way up to guest starring role in TV shows like M*A*S*H and The Bob Newhart show in the early 70s before landing a breakthrough role in the Oscar-nominated The Conversation. Then came Fronkensteen. Garr played Inga in Mel Brooks’ riotous send-up of horror films, Young Frankenstein. She was absolutely brilliant in that film, which is saying something because of all of the standout performances in the film. My other favorite that featured her is Tootsie, where she played one of Dustin Hoffman’s love interests/acting students when he was “Michael.” (Dabney Coleman, who was also in that film, was also featured this month. ) She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Tootsie. In 2002 Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She continued to act until 2011 before retiring. Complications from the disease took her life in October. Garr’s legacy is her brilliant knack for comedy and drama. She did both so very well. Teri Garr Born Terry Ann Garr, December 11, 1944, Los Angeles, California Died October 29, 2024, Los Angeles, California (multiple sclerosis) (age 79) One of the best lines in Young Frankenstein (PG-rated):