‘Tootsie’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’ actor Teri Garr dies aged 79

Born as Teri Ann Garr on 11 December 1944 in Lakewood, Ohio, near Cleveland, Garr grew up with show-business roots. Her father, Eddie, was a vaudeville performer and Broadway actor, while her mother, Phyllis, had been a Rockette.

After studying in Los Angeles, Garr moved to New York City, initially pursuing ballet before shifting to acting, where she trained at the renowned Actor’s Studio in Manhattan.

Filmmaker and comedian Mel Brooks and actress Cloris Leachman (R) greet actress Teri Garr at a 40th anniversary screening of “Young Frankenstein” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Samuel Goldwyn theatre in Beverly Hills, California September 9, 2014. (Reuters)

According to NBC News, Garr, whose career spanned over four decades, charmed audiences with her unique, witty style and became a regular on popular sitcoms and late-night shows, notably “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”

Initially trained in ballet, Garr began her Hollywood journey as an uncredited go-go dancer in six Elvis Presley musicals. By the early 1970s, she shifted toward more substantial acting roles, working with many of the top directors of the time.

A major turning point came in 1974, when Garr appeared in a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation and portrayed Inga, Gene Wilder’s German-accented assistant, in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, a comedic homage to classic Hollywood horror films.