Teri Garr

Teri Ann Garr is a retired actress, singer, and dancer. She frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spans 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. Additionally, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards in 1978 for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Garr began her career as a go-go dancer in youth-oriented films and TV shows and had roles in several Elvis Presley films and The Monkees' film Head. She had her film breakthrough as Inga in Young Frankenstein. 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 Mr. Mom and Tootsie, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sandra Lester. She also had a regular role on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" and even hosted "Saturday Night Live" three times.

Her quick banter led to Garr being a regular guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and later David Letterman. She also had a role on "Sesame Street" as Amelia Adams. In the 1990s, she appeared in two films by Robert Altman: The Player and Prêt-à-Porter. She also appeared on television as Phoebe Abbott in three episodes of the sitcom "Friends" and had recurring roles on "McCloud." Garr's career was slowed down in the late 1990s due to her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had negatively affected her ability to perform beginning in the 1990s.

In October 2002, Garr publicly confirmed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After disclosing her condition, she became a National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and National Chair for the Society's Women Against MS program (WAMS). She was honored as the society's Ambassador of the Year in November 2005.

In December 2006, Garr suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. The aneurysm left Garr in a coma for weeks, but after therapy, she regained speech and motor skills. Despite her health struggles, Garr maintains a positive outlook and continues to be active in the entertainment industry. She appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" in 2008 to promote the film Expired.

In addition to her acting career, Garr has been an active participant in social causes. In March 1988, Garr was arrested for trespassing in Mercury, Nevada, during a protest against nuclear weapons testing in the area. Garr has participated in events for The Trevor Project, a non-profit gay youth suicide prevention organization. She has also authored an autobiography titled "Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood," discussing her career and personal life. Garr retired from acting in 2011 but remains an influential figure in the film industry.