Michael Keaton, Lisa Kudrow, Dustin Hoffman, Mel Brooks, and more pay tribute to Teri Garr as Tootsie actress dies at 79

Popular actress Teri Garr passed away on October 29, 2024. The actress was 79 years old when she died due to complications of multiple sclerosis. Her death was confirmed by her longtime publicist, Heidi Schaeffer. She told USA Today that Garr breathed her last at her home in Los Angeles.

Teri Garr’s death has left the fans, followers, friends and family of the actress in shock. Many celebrities from the entertainment industry paid their tributes to the deceased actress, as they remembered her legacy and her roles in several movies like Tootsie, The Conversation, One from the Heart and even Young Frankenstein.

Michael Keaton, who shared the screen with Teri Garr in the 1983 hit, Mr. Mom wrote on Instagram:

“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.”

Furthermore, actress Lisa Kudrow spoke to People Magazine, and shared how she loved working with Garr on F.R.I.E.N.D.S. where the latter had played her mother onscreen. She said:

"Teri Garr was a comedic acting genius who was and is a huge influence on me, and I know I'm not alone in that. I feel so lucky and grateful I got to work with Teri Garr."

Dustin Hoffman, who worked with Teri Garr in the superhit, Tootsie, spoke to Entertainment Weekly and stated:

"Teri was brilliant and singular in all she did, and had a heart of gold. Working with her was one of the great highs. There was no one like her."

Mel Brooks also shared an emotional message on X, as the actor wrote:

“So very sorry to hear about Teri Garr’s passing. She was so talented and so funny. Her humor and lively spirit made the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN set a pleasure to work on. Her ‘German’ accent had us all in stitches! She will be greatly missed."

American television host David Letterman, director Francis Ford Coppola and filmmaker Paul Feig were among the other celebs who paid tribute to the late actress. Toronto International Film Festival also uploaded a post celebrating Garr's "charming performances."

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Teri Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October 2022

Teri Garr, the popular actor has left the world in a shock, as the actress breathed her last on October 29, 2024. During her appearance on CNN's Larry King Live, Garr revealed to the world on October 8, 2002, that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system that attacks the healthy cells, and damages the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body.

At the time, she explained:

"I'm telling my story for the first time so I can help people. I can help people know they aren't alone and tell them there are reasons to be optimistic because, today, treatment options are available. I think everybody is scared and frightened when they hear something like that, and that's because there's not a lot of information out there about it.”

Furthermore, she also revealed that she started noticing the first symptoms when she was shooting for Tootsie in 1982. She later became a part of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and helped in spreading awareness about the same. Four years later, she shared that she had been going through a ruptured brain aneurysm, which had left her in a coma for a week.

After battling with speech and motor skills disorientation for many weeks, she regained her health and resumed working for her TV shows and films, including How to Marry a Billionaire.

The actress started her career in films with the movie Fun in Acapulco in 1963 and later went on to make an appearance in several films like What a Way to Go!, Pajama Party, Red Line 7000, Girl Happy, Where Is the Bus?, Miracles, After Hours, Short Time, Michael, The Sky Is Falling and many more.

While friends, family and fans continue to mourn the passing away of the actress, the family has yet to reveal details about her funeral and memorial services.