Early films and stage Early in her career, she was credited as Terry Garr. She often appeared on television during this time, performing as a go-go dancer on several musical variety shows, along with friend
Toni Basil, such as
Shindig! and
Hullabaloo. In 1966, Garr made one appearance on
Batman (episode seven, uncredited). In 1968, she appeared in both
The Andy Griffith Show and
Mayberry R.F.D. and was in two episodes of
It Takes a Thief.
Film and television; critical acclaim Her first speaking role in a motion picture was a brief appearance as a
damsel in distress in
The Monkees' film
Head (1968), written by
Jack Nicholson; Garr got the role after meeting Nicholson in an acting class. This was followed with her role as Inga, an assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, in the
Mel Brooks horror comedy Young Frankenstein (1974), which marked a career breakthrough. She then appeared in a dramatic role in
Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as the wife of
Richard Dreyfuss's character;
Richard Eder of
The New York Times noted that Garr "manages an attractive uncertainty and devotion as Charlie's wife." For her role, she was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Later work and television on the set of
Perfect Alibi (1995) with director
Kevin Meyer In the 1970s, Garr had a recurring role on
McCloud, and appeared on
M*A*S*H,
The Bob Newhart Show,
The Odd Couple,
Maude,
Barnaby Jones, and
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. She hosted
Saturday Night Live three times (in 1980, 1983, and 1985), and was a frequent visitor on
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, appearing over 40 times. As a recurring guest on
Late Night with David Letterman, Garr was renowned for her unscripted banter with
David Letterman, who once goaded her into showering in his office while the camera rolled. Letterman later apologized to Garr, stating that he came to realize the constant requests for her to shower were "maybe kind of a sexist thing to do." In 1986, Garr appeared in episode 2223 of
Sesame Street as Amelia Adams, a student of
Oscar the Grouch's school, Oscar's New School For Grouch Research. Garr had several prominent dramatic roles on television in the 1980s, starring opposite
Donald Sutherland in an adaptation of
John Steinbeck's
The Winter of Our Discontent (1983), in the parody miniseries
Fresno (1986), and opposite
Ellen Burstyn in an adaptation of the play
Pack of Lies (1987), which earned an Emmy nomination for
Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special. In 1989, Garr appeared in
Let It Ride, also opposite Dreyfuss. Garr's career began to slow in the late 1990s after a
neurologist informed her that symptoms she had been experiencing for many years were those of
multiple sclerosis. In film, she appeared in minor supporting roles, including a witch in the children's film
Casper Meets Wendy (1998) and the mother of
Michelle Williams in the political comedy
Dick (1999). This was followed by an uncredited role in
Terry Zwigoff's
Ghost World (2001). She also provided the voice of Mary McGinnis,
Terry McGinnis's mother, in
Batman Beyond (1999–2001). She subsequently had minor supporting roles in the Christmas comedy film
Unaccompanied Minors (2006), and the independent comedies
Expired and
Kabluey (both 2007). Garr appeared on
The Moth Radio Hour broadcast of December 9, 2009, to tell a humorous reminiscence, "Wake Up Call". Garr last acted on television in 2011. She appeared at the 19th Annual Race to Erase MS event in 2012. In 2019, it was revealed Garr had retired from acting in 2011. ==Personal life==