Dustin Hoffman Remembers Tootsie Co-Star Teri Garr: A Tribute To A Legendary Actress

Dustin Hoffman Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Tootsie Co-Star Teri Garr

On October 29, the world lost a remarkable talent with the passing of Teri Garr, best known for her unforgettable role in the classic film Tootsie. Dustin Hoffman, who starred alongside her, shared heartfelt words about his late co-star in a statement to The New York Post. At 87, Hoffman expressed deep admiration for Garr’s brilliance and unique charm.

“Teri was brilliant and singular in all she did, and had a heart of gold,” Hoffman fondly recalled. “Working with her was one of the great highs of my career. There truly was no one like her. She brought an authenticity to her roles that was unmatched, and her presence on set was always a joy.”

Her Iconic Role in Tootsie and Beyond

Teri Garr's portrayal of Sandy Lester in the 1982 film Tootsie remains one of the most cherished performances in cinematic history. Alongside Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Dabney Coleman, and Charles Durning, Garr delivered a performance so compelling that it earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Hoffman himself was nominated for Best Actor, while Lange took home the award for Best Supporting Actress.

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Garr often spoke about the impact of that nomination, reflecting on it in her 2005 memoir, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood. “I was proud,” she wrote. “The Academy not only knew I existed, they thought I was good! That nomination meant so much to me, not just personally, but as an acknowledgment of my craft.”

Fighting the Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis

Teri Garr faced one of the toughest battles of her life after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. Despite the challenges, she remained resilient and chose to share her journey publicly in 2002. Her openness about living with MS became a beacon of hope for many others dealing with the disease.

“MS is a sneaky disease,” Garr once explained. “It’s like some of my boyfriends—showing up at the most awkward times and then disappearing entirely. It took over 20 years for doctors to figure out what was wrong. Sometimes they mentioned MS, but all the tests came back clear. Then the symptoms would fade, and I’d forget about it, sort of.”

Her Final Acting Appearance and Legacy

Garr’s final acting appearance came in 2011 when she starred in How to Marry a Billionaire. Even as her career slowed, she attributed it not to her talent but to the challenges posed by MS. “I think my career would have changed anyway at a certain age, but Hollywood’s very finicky about everyone being perfect,” she told Brain & Life. “When things slowed down, it was either the MS or that I’m a stinking actress, so I chose to believe it’s the MS.”

Garr was passionate about raising awareness for MS, using her platform to educate and inspire others. “There’s definitely fear and misunderstanding out there about what MS is, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to me to go out and talk about it,” she said.

Garr passed away at the age of 79, after a decades-long battle with MS. Her publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, confirmed that Garr was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her death, bringing some comfort in her final moments.

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Michael Keaton and Lisa Kudrow Honor Teri Garr

Michael Keaton, who starred alongside Garr in the 1983 film Mr. Mom, also paid tribute to the late actress on social media. “This is a day I feared and knew was coming,” he wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Lisa Kudrow, who worked with Garr on Friends, where Garr played the birth mother of Kudrow’s character Phoebe Buffay, shared her thoughts as well. “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,” Kudrow told People. “I feel so lucky and grateful I got to work with Teri Garr.”

Garr is survived by her daughter, Molly O’Neil, whom she had with her ex-husband John O’Neil, and one grandson.