Teri Garri, the Oscar-nominated actress who brought Sandy Lester to life in the 1982 movie Tootsie, passed away on Tuesday. She was 79. Her friend and publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, confirmed that she was in LA at the time, and she succumbed to complications from multiple sclerosis.
In the movie, Garr played a struggling actress, and delivered the popular line, with perfect comedic timing:
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"It was a wonderful party, my date left with someone else, I had a lot of fun, do you have any seconal?”
Dustin Hoffman, Lisa Kudrow, David Letterman, and more pay tribute to Teri Garr
As reported by The New York Post, Dustin Hoffman paid tribute to his late co-star, who nabbed an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. He said, in a statement:
"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.”
In speaking about Garr's "wonderful" personality, several more in the industry chimed in to honor her memory. Michael Keaton, Garr's co-star on Mr. Mom in 1983, said in a post 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."
Here's how Lisa Kudrow, who played Terri Garr's character's daughter, bid adieu, according to Entertainment Weekly:
"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 go to work with Teri Garr."
Mel Brooks, the director of Garr's Young Frankenstein, took to X to offer his condolences:
"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."
David Letterman also offered his condolences on Instagram:
"Teri Garr's many appearances on Late Night gave it a [cachet] and importance not possible without her. She was a first class actor and comedian and a lovely human being. A bright star and a real friend to the show. I was lucky to know her. She elevated all, and I'm sad she is gone."
In 2006, Garr suffered from a brain aneurysm that impacted her speech and fine motor skills. While she was able to act after that, she retired in 2011. According to The New York Post, Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, 30, and grandson, Tyryn, 6.
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