Cast & creator
Teri Garr
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Mike Douglas Show
Teri Ann Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024) was an American actress, dancer and singer. She frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spanned four decades and includes over 140 credits in film and television. Her accolades include one Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and one National Board of Review Award. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Garr was raised in North Hollywood. She was the third child of a comedic-actor father and a studio costumer mother. In her youth, Garr trained in ballet and other forms of dance. She began her career as a teenager with small roles in television and film in the early 1960s, including appearances as a dancer in six Elvis Presley musicals. After spending two years attending college, Garr left Los Angeles and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. Her self-described "big break" as an actress was landing a role in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth," after which she said, "I finally started to get real acting work." Garr had a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller "The Conversation" (1974) before having her film breakthrough as Inga in "Young Frankenstein" (1974). In 1977, she was cast in a high-profile role in Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Garr continued to appear in various high-profile roles throughout the 1980s, including supporting parts in the comedies "Tootsie" (1982), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Sandra Lester, and then appearing opposite Michael Keaton the next year in "Mr. Mom" (1983). She reunited with Coppola the same year, appearing in his musical "One from the Heart" (1982), followed by a supporting part in Martin Scorsese's black comedy "After Hours" (1985). Her quick banter led to Garr being a regular guest on "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson and "Late Night with David Letterman." In the 1990s, she appeared in two films by Robert Altman: "The Player" (1992) and "Prêt-à-Porter" (1994), followed by supporting roles in "Michael" (1996) and "Ghost World" (2001). She also appeared on television as Phoebe Abbott in three episodes of the sitcom "Friends" (1997–98). In 2002, Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had negatively affected her ability to perform beginning in the 1990s. After years of declining health, she passed away on October 29, 2024.
Also known as: Teri Hope, Terry Garr, Terri Garr, Terry Ann Garr, تری گار
112
film credits
65
television credits
176
1944–2018 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (177)
Showing 177 of 177 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Minerva Grahame-Bishop
1999
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975Saturday Night Live
Diner Waitress (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
Friends
Phoebe Sr.
1994
King of the Hill
Laney (voice)
1997
Frasier
Nancy (voice)
1993
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
ER
Celinda Randlett
1994
Golden Globe Awards
Self
1944
M*A*S*H
Lt. Suzanne Marquette
1972
Star Trek
Roberta Lincoln
1966
The Andy Griffith Show
Girl in Red Convertible
1960
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Yenta
1996
Strong Medicine
Mimi Stark
2000
Batman
Girl Outside Rink (uncredited)
1966
Dr. Kildare
Naomi (uncredited)
1961
Wogan
Self
1982
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993
Murphy Brown
Teri Garr
1988The Tony Danza Show
Self
2004
The Larry Sanders Show
Teri Garr
1992
Batman Beyond
Mary McGinnis (voice)
1999
Tales from the Crypt
Irene Paloma ("segment "The Trap")
1989
Barnaby Jones
Maria Thompson
1973
The Bob Newhart Show
Miss Brennan
1972
Duckman
Vanessa La Pert (voice)
1994
Felicity
Dr. Zwick
1998
The Odd Couple
Insurance Agent
1970
McCloud
Sgt. Phyllis Norton
1970McCloud
Nora Mullins
1970
That Girl
Estelle
1966That Girl
Actress #1 At Audition (uncredited)
1966
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Teri (voice)
1995Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Additional Writing
1995
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Sandy Gordon (voice)
2002
Dream On
Sandra McCadden
1990
Dumb and Dumber
Helen Swanson
1994
Mayberry R.F.D.
Cashier
1968
Faerie Tale Theatre
Self
1982Faerie Tale Theatre
Princess
1982
It Takes a Thief
Maggie Philbin
1968
Shindig!
Self - Dancer
1964Shindig!
Self
1964
Life with Bonnie
Mrs. Abigail Portinbody
2002
Men Behaving Badly
Carol
1996
The Mothers-in-Law
Usherette
1967
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Wife/Singer
1971
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Ronnie Neary
1977
Legends
Inga (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Waitress
1971
Adventures in Wonderland
Duchess
1992Please Turn the Page
Self
1977
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest
1996
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self
1973
Young Frankenstein
Inga
1974
The Weird Al Show
Teri Garr
1997
Good Advice
Paige Turner
1993
After Hours
Julie
1985
Women of the House
Sissy Emerson
1995
Banyon
Mabel
1972The General Motors Playwrights Theater
Edna Doe
1991
The Player
Teri Garr
1992
The Conversation
Amy Fredericks
1974
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Mary McGinnis (voice)
2000
Aloha Scooby-Doo!
Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
2005
Crumbs
Lorraine Bergman
2006
The Girl with Something Extra
Amber
1973
Tootsie
Sandy Lester
1982
Casper Meets Wendy
Fanny
1998
Fresno
Talon Kensington
1986
Ghost World
Maxine (uncredited)
2001
Batman Beyond: The Movie
Mary McGinnis (voice)
1999
Prêt-à-Porter
Louise Hamilton
1994Great Drives
Self - Host
1996
The Black Stallion
Alec's Mother
1979
Mr. Mom
Caroline
1983
One from the Heart
Frannie
1982
A Simple Wish
Rena
1997
Good & Evil
Denise Sandler
1991
What a Way to Go!
Shipboard Number Dancer (uncredited)
1964
Michael
Judge Esther Newberg
1996
Unaccompanied Minors
Aunt Judy (uncredited)
2006
Dick
Helen Lorenzo
1999
The Black Stallion Returns
Alec Ramsay's Mother
1983
Viva Las Vegas
Dancer (uncredited)
1964
Let It Ride
Pam
1989
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
Fun in Acapulco
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1963
The Sky is Falling
Mona Hall
2001
The Sting II
Veronica
1983
The Escape Artist
Arlene
1982
NightScream
Julie Ordwell
1997
Mom and Dad Save the World
Marge Nelson
1992
Full Moon in Blue Water
Louise
1988
Oh, God!
Bobbie Landers
1977
Clambake
Dancer (uncredited)
1967
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Fluffy Peters
1976
Honky Tonk Freeway
Ericka
1981
Short Time
Carolyn Simpson
1990
Kabluey
Suze
2007
Double Jeopardy
Cindy Dubroski
1996
Head
Testy True
1968
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Harem Girl (uncredited)
1965
Waiting for the Light
Kay
1990
Roustabout
Carnival Dancer (uncredited)
1964
Life Without Dick
Madame Hugonaut
2002
Do It Debbie's Way
Self
1983
Paul Reiser: Out on a Whim
Self
1987
Pajama Party
Pajama Girl
1964
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
2013
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic
Self
1991
Red Line 7000
Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
1965
Steve Martin Live!
Self
1984
To Catch a King
Hannah Winter
1984
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Jill (of Jack and Jill)
1990
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder
Marsha Pegler
1990
The Moonshine War
Young Wife
1970
The T.A.M.I. Show
Self - Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)
1964
Aliens for Breakfast
Mrs. Bickerstaff
1994
The Tale of the Frog Prince
Princess
1982
Kissin' Cousins
Hillbilly Dancer (uncredited)
1964
Half a Dozen Babies
Lee Dilley
1999
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Self
1979
Prime Suspect
Amy McCleary
1982
Firstborn
Wendy
1984
The Absent-Minded Waiter
Susan Cates
1977
Robert Altman's Players
Self
1992
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert
Brita Burrows
1993
Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary
Self
1977
Searching for Debra Winger
Self
2002
Stranger in the Family
Randi Thompson
1991
The Winter of Our Discontent
Mary Hawley
1983
Summertree
Bennie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
1971
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm
Frog Princess
1977
Out Cold
Sunny
1989
A Colder Kind of Death
Tess Malone
2001
The Making of 'Tootsie'
Self
1982
The History of White People in America
Self
1985
Maryjane
Teri
1968
Ronnie and Julie
Elizabeth Monroe
1997
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Inga (archive footage)
1996
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self
2001
For Pete's Sake
MarJean
1966
Murder Live!
JoAnn McGrath
1997
Doctor Franken
Kelli Fisher
1980
Law and Order
Rita Wasinski
1976The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk
Susie
1967
Rendez-Vous Video Magazine
Self (segment "Coppola")
1981
The Cool Ones
Whiz Girl
1967
Inside the Coppola Personality
Self
1981
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie'
Self
2008
Miracles
Jean
1986
Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View
Susan Woolley
1992
Expired
Claire's Mother / Aunt Tilde
2007
Perfect Alibi
Laney Tolbert
1995The Wiki-Tiki Tail of Aloha Scooby-Doo
Self
2005Jackie Gleason: The Great One
Self
1988
Pack of Lies
Helen Schaefer
1987
Kill the Man
Mrs. Livingston
1999
The Dream Studio
self
2004Shining Time Station: One of the Family
Sister Conductor
1995
Witches' Brew
Margaret Lightman
1980
Where's the Bus?
Girl
1966
Changing Habits
Connie
1997
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self (archive footage)
2018
Martin Mull Live from North Ridgeville, Ohio
Self
1987
A Taste Of Jupiter
Ginnie
2005
You Haven't Changed a Bit
Corinne
1970
The Definite Maybe
Dionne Waters
1997
Flapjack Floozie
Helen Eagles
1988
A Swingin' Affair
1963
Changes
Waitress
1969
Intimate Strangers
Sally Bierston
1986
Java Junkie
Waitress
1979