Beloved actress Teri Garr, best known for her comedic roles in films, has died at the age of 79 following complications from multiple sclerosis. Her publicist Heidi Schaeffer confirmed to USA Today the actress died "peacefully surrounded by family and friends". Garr began her acting career in the 1960s before going on to become a household name in comedy films, starring in the likes of Young Frankenstein, Oh, God!, Mr.
Mom and After Hours. She also showed her ability to play a serious role in 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as she played the distressed wife to Richard Dreyfuss during his obsession with UFOs. It was her role in 1982's Tootsie though, which arguably goes down as her most iconic role, receiving best supporting actress nominations in both the Academy Awards and BAFTA Awards.
Garr also became synonymous with younger audiences for a small three-episode arc in Friends, where she played the mother of Lisa Kudrow's character Phoebe Buffay. Beetlejuice actor Michael Keaton, who starred alongside Garr in Mr. Mom in 1983, was one of many to pay tribute to the actress on Tuesday US time.
"This is a day I feared and knew was coming. Forget about how great she was as an actress and comedienne. She was a wonderful woman.
Not just great to work with but great to be around. AND go back and watch her comedic work- Man was she great!! Rip girl," he posted on Instagram. Film director Paul Feig said the news of Garr's death was "devastating".
"Teri was a legend. So funn.
