We remember actor Teri Garr, who died last week at age 79. She charmed audiences in her film roles and appearances on late night TV. She's best known for her role as the dim witted seductive lab assistant to Gene Wilder's mad scientist in Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein. She was later nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Tootsie. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Garr became a spokeswoman for MS research and support. She spoke with Terry Gross in 2005. Also, Justin Chang reviews the new World War II drama Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen and starring Saoirse Ronan.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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This is Fresh Air. I'm David Bianculli. Terry Garr, whose movie roles included very memorable parts in Tootsie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Young Frankenstein, died Tuesday of complications from multiple sclerosis. She was 79 years old. Today, we'll replay an interview from our archive where she spoke with Terry Gross. And we'll start with an appreciation.
Terry Garr was a dancer and actress who quickly found roles that embraced her more bubbly and comic side. She also found her way into various points of pop culture. She danced in nine Elvis Presley movies, played a small part in a movie starring the Monkees, and played a time-traveling secretary from the 60s in an episode of Star Trek.
She was a member of the comedy troupe on Sonny and Cher's TV variety series and starred opposite Robin Williams in The Tale of the Frog Prince, the very first edition of Shelley Duvall's Fairytale Theatre.
She also made her mark on late-night TV, hosting Saturday Night Live three times and appearing often on David Letterman's talk show to charm him and the viewers with her funny and playful personality. Here she is from an appearance in 1985. You were just in Japan, weren't you? Yes, I was.
What were you doing there?
Vacationing, weren't you?
No, I was at the film festival.
Film festival what? What film festival?
The Japanese Film Festival. The International Film Festival of Tokyo.
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