About twenty years before to her passing, the actress received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Actress Teri Garr has passed away. She was known for her parts in Tootsie, Mr. Mom, Young Frankenstein, and others. Her age was 79. On Tuesday, October 29, the actress’s manager Marc Gurvitz confirmed the news to CNN. The announcement follows Teri’s public disclosure of her MS diagnosis nearly 20 years ago.
During an interview with CNN in 2002, Teri discussed her struggle with multiple sclerosis. After seeing eleven different physicians for unexplained discomfort, she came to the realization that “a lot of people don’t know that it’s not that bad” and that “not a lot of information out there about” multiple sclerosis.
Teri stated, “I mean, I’m going on with my life,” when asked about it. The good news, I believe, is that patients now have access to many options and high-quality medications.
Teri mentioned instances of physical discomfort later in the conversation.
“I would jog and run in the park and I just started tripping,” she stated, referring to a period when she did this. It was merely my little toe. As soon as I started to trip, it would disappear. After that, I’d feel a tingling sensation in my arm. Oh, this is an orthopedic condition, the doctor I saw told me. “You know, get another opinion,” my brother said when I contacted him in Los Angeles; he is a doctor. I scheduled an appointment with a neurologist as a result. He confirmed, “Yes, it’s a pinched nerve.”
The Mayo Clinic reports that MS is an autoimmune disorder that mostly impacts the brain. The disease has the potential to cause irreversible harm to the central nervous system’s nerve fibers. Despite the availability of numerous medications, there is presently no cure for multiple sclerosis.
Teri found that she had multiple sclerosis after multiple misdiagnoses. Bringing up her background “from a show business family” and being used to denial, the late Oscar nominee admitted during her CNN interview that she was “in denial” about her health.
Famed actors and musicians were Teri’s parents. Both of her parents were performers; Eddie Garr was involved in vaudeville, acting, and comedy, and Phyllis Lind Garr was a Rockette. Teri began auditioning for roles after finishing high school in North Hollywood, and she eventually landed roles as a dancer and actor.
