Teri Garr from ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Tootsie’ dead at 79. Actor had N.J. connection.

Teri Garr, the actor who memorably played Inga in “Young Frankenstein” (1974) and delighted in many other comedy roles, including her Oscar-nominated turn in “Tootsie” (1982), has died.
Garr, 79, died Tuesday of multiple sclerosis, her publicist told The Associated Press.
She was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 1999 after experiencing symptoms since the ’80s. In 2007, she had an operation to repair an aneurysm.
Garr, who was born in Lakewood, Ohio to vaudeville entertainer Eddie Garr and Rockette Phyllis Lind, spent some time living in Franklin Lakes as a child before moving to Los Angeles with her family.
She started her career as a dancer, and can be seen in Elvis Presley movies like “Viva Las Vegas” (1964). She went on to appear in TV series like “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.”
Her first major film as an actor was Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” (1974). She would also star in the director’s “One from the Heart” (1982).
As Inga in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” Garr played the assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, played by Gene Wilder.
Garr played the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977) and starred as Sandy Lester opposite Dustin Hoffman’s Michael Dorsey in “Tootsie” (1982), directed by Sydney Pollack. Garr was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for the role.
The actor continued her long career in film and TV with a series of appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman,” and later, movies like “Dumb and Dumber” (1994) and “Mom and Dad Save the World” (1992) and a stint on “Friends.”
“This is a day I feared and knew was coming,” said Michael Keaton, Garr’s co-star in “Mr. Mom” (1983).
“Forget about how great she was as an actress and comedienne,” he said. “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!!”
Variety reports that Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, and Tyryn, her grandson.
Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at [email protected] and followed at @AmyKup.