Teri Garr, actress known for “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie,” dies at the age of 79

Actress Teri Garr, whose offbeat comedic talents earned her an Oscar nomination Tootsie Born in 1982, died after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 79.

She died on Tuesday as a result of the illness surrounded by her family and friends Associated Press reported. She first shared her diagnosis in 2002, underwent surgery for an aneurysm in 2007 and has struggled with other health issues in recent years.

Garr, whose quirky humor style influenced a generation of comedians, including Tina FeyShe began her career as a background dancer in Elvis Presley's films. In the 1970s, 80s and 90s she played prominent roles in high-profile comedies such as Young Frankenstein and dramas like Close encounters of the third kind.

Garr came from a show business family. Her father, Eddie Garr, was a Vaudois, while her mother, Phyllis Lind, was one of the original Rockettes. At the age of 14, Garr was already dancing in the ballet companies of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Her first major acting role was in the 1974 film Francis Coppola The conversationand her performance helped land her the role that would introduce her to a wider audience – Inga, the German-accented lab assistant in the 1974 horror comedy Young Frankenstein.

An established comedic talent, she made notable appearances as Dustin Hoffman's girlfriend in ” Tootsie in 1982 and as Michael Keaton's wife in Mr. Mom in 1983. Garr, who was afraid of being classified as a comic actress, proved her dramatic talent in films such as Close encounters And The escape artist.

She was also known for a series of amusing appearances on the early days of Late Night With David Letterman in the '80s, during which she and the then-up-and-coming host cheekily argued.

In 1983, she noticed a ticking feeling in her right leg. Eventually the disease spread and when the symptoms became unbearable, Garr went to the doctor in 1999 and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She did not share the diagnosis publicly for three years.

“I was afraid I wouldn’t get a job,” she said in 2003, according to the AP. “People hear MS and think, 'Oh my God, that person has two days to live.'”

Garr became a speaker for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and gave humorous lectures at meetings throughout the United States. She also continued acting, appearing in a number of prominent TV roles, including three episodes as Phoebe Buffay's biological mother on the hit '90s sitcom Friends.

She is survived by her daughter Molly O'Neil and a grandson, AP reported.