---
name: "Teri Garr"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/teri-garr"
fi1m_id: "teri-garr"
imdb_id: "nm0000414"
tmdb_id: 8437
wikidata_id: "Q233873"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 December 1944"
died: "29 October 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-07T12:10:15.445712+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Teri Garr

## Identity

Teri Garr

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/teri-garr
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** teri-garr
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000414
- **TMDB ID:** 8437
- **Wikidata ID:** Q233873
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Garr, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233873, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000414/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8437

Actor. Born 11 December 1944 in Lakewood, Ohio, USA. Died 29 October 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 December 1944, Lakewood, Ohio, USA
- **Died:** 29 October 2024
- **Active:** 1974–1997
- **Also known as:** Teri Hope, Terry Garr, Terri Garr, Terry Ann Garr, تری گار
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 9 acting, 1 other
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (3), 1980s 76 (3), 1990s 81 (3), 2000s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 84 to 82 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 5, Crime 2, Family 2, Mystery 2, Thriller 2
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $871m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Garr, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233873, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000414/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8437

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md) (92), [*The Black Stallion*](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md) (87), [*Tootsie*](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md) (85), [*Close Encounters of the Third Kind*](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md) (85), [*Mr. Mom*](https://film.one/film/mr-mom.md) (62)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*After Hours*](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Teri Garr

> Teri Garr makes anxious women funny without dismissing their troubles. Her precise timing gives *Tootsie* one of its richest performances, though the film could afford to pay her as much attention as it pays its leading man.

In *Tootsie* (1982), Teri Garr's Sandy Lester keeps demanding our attention, even with Dustin Hoffman at the centre of the farce. Garr gives her anxiety an exact comic timing without reducing Sandy to a collection of nervous habits. We laughed, then felt protective of her, because the embarrassment in the performance remained recognisable. This is Garr at her most rewarding: funny enough to compete with the lead, and interesting enough to deserve more room.

Her breakthrough came with two supporting parts in 1974: Inga in *Young Frankenstein* and Amy Fredericks in *The Conversation*. Broad comedy and straight drama were both part of her work from that point. Ronnie Neary in *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977) continued the dramatic work, while Julie in *After Hours* (1985) belonged to black comedy. The recurring limitation was the casting: anxious, daffy or long-suffering women, usually supporting somebody else's story.

Sydney Pollack gives her a useful setting in *Tootsie*: an ensemble whose actors do not all work at the same speed. Jessica Lange gives Julie Nichols feelings that matter, while Bill Murray makes Jeff Slater a quieter comic presence. Garr's anxious precision adds something different again, so the film need not keep looking to Hoffman for its next laugh. These actors make the improbable story easier to accept because their irritation and embarrassment are familiar.

The reservation is with what the film asks these women to do. *Tootsie* gives its leading man too much authority to explain their experience, even as it makes fun of his vanity. Garr and Lange create characters who could complicate those lessons, and the script too often declines the opportunity. Sandy's insecurity is worth exploring beyond what it can teach Michael.

Later work included Helen Swanson in *Dumb and Dumber* (1994), a comedy whose chief pleasure is the double act of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. We enjoy that film's indifference to good taste, though its jokes repeat themselves; it is not where we would start with Garr. Start with *Tootsie*, and leave time afterwards to discuss Sandy rather than just the man in disguise.

## Biography

Teri Garr was an American actress and dancer. She appeared in over 140 film and television credits across four decades, often in comedic roles.

Born in Lakewood, Ohio, on 11 December 1944, she trained in ballet and other dance forms. She began her career with small roles in the early 1960s, including as a dancer in several Elvis Presley musicals, and later studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York.

Garr had supporting roles in *The Conversation* (1974) and *Young Frankenstein* (1974). She received an Academy Award nomination for *Tootsie* (1982) and appeared as Helen Swanson in *Dumb and Dumber* (1994). She also had a recurring role in *Friends*. Garr died on 29 October 2024.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, apnews.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Performed in (9) — the average rests on these

- *King of the Hill* (1997), Fi1m 82, as Laney (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Dumb and Dumber* (1994), Fi1m 76, as Helen Swanson — [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-and-dumber.md)
- *The Player* (1992), Fi1m 85, as Teri Garr — [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *After Hours* (1985), Fi1m 80, as Julie — [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Mr. Mom* (1983), Fi1m 62, as Caroline — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-mom.md)
- *Tootsie* (1982), Fi1m 85, as Sandy Lester — [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md)
- *The Black Stallion* (1979), Fi1m 87, as Alec's Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md)
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Fi1m 85, as Ronnie Neary — [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92, as Amy Fredericks — [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Ghost World* (2001), Fi1m 84, as Maxine (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md)

## Complete filmography (135)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Kabluey* (2007), as Suze
- *Expired* (2007), as Claire's Mother / Aunt Tilde
- *Unaccompanied Minors* (2006), as Aunt Judy (uncredited)
- *Legends* (2006), series, as Inga (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Crumbs* (2006), series, as Lorraine Bergman
- *A Taste Of Jupiter* (2005), as Ginnie
- *Aloha Scooby-Doo!* (2005), as Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
- *Life with Bonnie* (2002), series, as Mrs. Abigail Portinbody
- *What's New, Scooby-Doo?* (2002), series, as Sandy Gordon (voice)
- *Life Without Dick* (2002), as Madame Hugonaut
- *Ghost World* (2001), as Maxine (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md)
- *The Sky is Falling* (2001), as Mona Hall
- *A Colder Kind of Death* (2001), as Tess Malone
- *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker* (2000), as Mary McGinnis (voice)
- *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Mimi Stark
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Minerva Grahame-Bishop
- *Dick* (1999), as Helen Lorenzo
- *Half a Dozen Babies* (1999), as Lee Dilley
- *Kill the Man* (1999), as Mrs. Livingston
- *Batman Beyond* (1999), series, as Mary McGinnis (voice)
- *Batman Beyond: The Movie* (1999), as Mary McGinnis (voice)
- *Felicity* (1998), series, as Dr. Zwick
- *Casper Meets Wendy* (1998), as Fanny
- *The Weird Al Show* (1997), series, as Teri Garr
- *A Simple Wish* (1997), as Rena
- *The Definite Maybe* (1997), as Dionne Waters
- *Changing Habits* (1997), as Connie
- *NightScream* (1997), as Julie Ordwell
- *Ronnie and Julie* (1997), as Elizabeth Monroe
- *Murder Live!* (1997), as JoAnn McGrath
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Laney (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Michael* (1996), as Judge Esther Newberg
- *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch* (1996), series, as Yenta
- *Men Behaving Badly* (1996), series, as Carol
- *Double Jeopardy* (1996), as Cindy Dubroski
- *Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein* (1996), as Inga (archive footage)
- *Shining Time Station: One of the Family* (1995), as Sister Conductor
- *Perfect Alibi* (1995), as Laney Tolbert
- *Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist* (1995), series, as Teri (voice), Additional Writing
- *Women of the House* (1995), series, as Sissy Emerson
- *Prêt-à-Porter* (1994), as Louise Hamilton
- *Dumb and Dumber* (1994), as Helen Swanson — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-and-dumber.md)
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Phoebe Sr. — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *ER* (1994), series, as Celinda Randlett — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Aliens for Breakfast* (1994), as Mrs. Bickerstaff
- *Duckman* (1994), series, as Vanessa La Pert (voice)
- *Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert* (1993), as Brita Burrows
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Nancy (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Good Advice* (1993), series, as Paige Turner
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Teri Garr — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *Mom and Dad Save the World* (1992), as Marge Nelson
- *The Player* (1992), as Teri Garr — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View* (1992), as Susan Woolley
- *Adventures in Wonderland* (1992), series, as Duchess
- *Stranger in the Family* (1991), as Randi Thompson
- *Good & Evil* (1991), series, as Denise Sandler
- *The General Motors Playwrights Theater* (1991), series, as Edna Doe
- *A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder* (1990), as Marsha Pegler
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Sandra McCadden
- *Waiting for the Light* (1990), as Kay
- *Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme* (1990), as Jill (of Jack and Jill)
- *Short Time* (1990), as Carolyn Simpson
- *Let It Ride* (1989), as Pam
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Irene Paloma ("segment "The Trap")
- *Out Cold* (1989), as Sunny
- *Full Moon in Blue Water* (1988), as Louise
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Teri Garr — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Flapjack Floozie* (1988), as Helen Eagles
- *Pack of Lies* (1987), as Helen Schaefer
- *Fresno* (1986), series, as Talon Kensington
- *Miracles* (1986), as Jean
- *Intimate Strangers* (1986), as Sally Bierston
- *After Hours* (1985), as Julie — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Firstborn* (1984), as Wendy
- *To Catch a King* (1984), as Hannah Winter
- *The Winter of Our Discontent* (1983), as Mary Hawley
- *Mr. Mom* (1983), as Caroline — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-mom.md)
- *The Black Stallion Returns* (1983), as Alec Ramsay's Mother
- *The Sting II* (1983), as Veronica
- *Tootsie* (1982), as Sandy Lester — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md)
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Princess
- *The Tale of the Frog Prince* (1982), as Princess
- *The Escape Artist* (1982), as Arlene
- *One from the Heart* (1982), as Frannie
- *Prime Suspect* (1982), as Amy McCleary
- *Honky Tonk Freeway* (1981), as Ericka
- *Witches' Brew* (1980), as Margaret Lightman
- *Doctor Franken* (1980), as Kelli Fisher
- *The Black Stallion* (1979), as Alec's Mother — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-black-stallion.md)
- *Java Junkie* (1979), as Waitress
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), as Ronnie Neary — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *Once Upon a Brothers Grimm* (1977), as Frog Princess
- *Oh, God!* (1977), as Bobbie Landers
- *The Absent-Minded Waiter* (1977), as Susan Cates
- *Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood* (1976), as Fluffy Peters
- *Law and Order* (1976), as Rita Wasinski
- *Young Frankenstein* (1974), as Inga
- *The Conversation* (1974), as Amy Fredericks — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The Girl with Something Extra* (1973), series, as Amber
- *Barnaby Jones* (1973), series, as Maria Thompson
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Lt. Suzanne Marquette — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Miss Brennan
- *Banyon* (1972), series, as Mabel
- *The New Dick Van Dyke Show* (1971), series, as Waitress
- *The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour* (1971), series, as Wife/Singer
- *Summertree* (1971), as Bennie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
- *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Insurance Agent
- *The Moonshine War* (1970), as Young Wife
- *McCloud* (1970), series, as Sgt. Phyllis Norton, Nora Mullins
- *You Haven't Changed a Bit* (1970), as Corinne
- *Changes* (1969), as Waitress
- *Head* (1968), as Testy True
- *Mayberry R.F.D.* (1968), series, as Cashier
- *Maryjane* (1968), as Teri
- *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as Maggie Philbin
- *Clambake* (1967), as Dancer (uncredited)
- *The Mothers-in-Law* (1967), series, as Usherette
- *The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk* (1967), as Susie
- *The Cool Ones* (1967), as Whiz Girl
- *For Pete's Sake* (1966), as MarJean
- *Star Trek* (1966), series, as Roberta Lincoln — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-1966.md)
- *That Girl* (1966), series, as Estelle, Actress #1 At Audition (uncredited)
- *Where's the Bus?* (1966), as Girl
- *Batman* (1966), series, as Girl Outside Rink (uncredited)
- *Red Line 7000* (1965), as Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
- *John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!* (1965), as Harem Girl (uncredited)
- *Roustabout* (1964), as Carnival Dancer (uncredited)
- *Pajama Party* (1964), as Pajama Girl
- *What a Way to Go!* (1964), as Shipboard Number Dancer (uncredited)
- *Kissin' Cousins* (1964), as Hillbilly Dancer (uncredited)
- *Viva Las Vegas* (1964), as Dancer (uncredited)
- *Fun in Acapulco* (1963), as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- *A Swingin' Affair* (1963), Actor
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Naomi (uncredited)
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Girl in Red Convertible

## Gallery

- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-765aca1b6f32.jpg) Teri Garr — Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Teri_Garr_-_signed.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Clarence Muse and Teri Garr in The Black Stallion (1978)](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-021896b96d8a.jpg) Clarence Muse and Teri Garr in The Black Stallion (1978) — CBS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Clarence_Muse_and_Teri_Garr_-_%22The_Black_Stallion%22_stills.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Teri Garr and Hector Elizondo on the set with director Kevin Meyer.](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-80c894a8dc7e.jpg) Teri Garr and Hector Elizondo on the set with director Kevin Meyer. — Director Kevin Meyer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/TeriGarr_HectorElizondo.jpg/1280px-TeriGarr_HectorElizondo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light"](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-5440d40476ea.jpg) AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Teri_Garr_at_the_AIDS_Project_Los_Angeles_%28APLA%29_benefit.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-a8187408795b.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-c73b06ec2a74.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-995acaee886c.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB
- ![AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light"](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-4d51c693a177.jpg) AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Teri_Garr_at_the_AIDS_Project_Los_Angeles_%28APLA%29_benefit_2.jpg/1280px-Teri_Garr_at_the_AIDS_Project_Los_Angeles_%28APLA%29_benefit_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Title: Teri Garr, actress, with David Letterman Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: 1982. Medium: 1 photograph : color transparen](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-86942447a518.jpg) Title: Teri Garr, actress, with David Letterman Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: 1982. Medium: 1 photograph : color transparen — Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Teri_Garr_with_David_Letterman.jpg/1280px-Teri_Garr_with_David_Letterman.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-c8c464a92bd3.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-31ef669a956f.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB
- ![Teri Garr](https://film.one/media/person/85079/gallery-bc3e1f168a43.jpg) Teri Garr — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1983: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Tootsie*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/teri-garr