David Letterman is calling Teri Garr, who died Tuesday, one of his “all time favorite guests,” while Garr’s Mr. Mom costar Michael Keaton laments “a day I feared and knew was coming.”
The late, great Teri Garr, who brightened everything from sitcoms (Batman, That Girl, Friends), variety shows (Shindig!, The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour), talk shows (she did ’em all, but her classic appearances with Letterman can’t be beat), some of the funniest movies ever made (Young Frankenstein, Tootsie) and even the occasional drama (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Conversation) is being remembered by co-stars and colleagues today for the light she was.
Michael Keaton, Garr’s Mr. Mom co-star, wrote on Instagram, “This is a day i feared and knew was coming. 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.”
In a brief post on Instagram, Letterman writes, “Remembering one of our all-time favorite guests,” accompanied by a clip of the talk show host introducing Garr while giving her a standing ovation.
“Oh man, this is devastating,” tweeted Paul Feig, who directed Garr in Unaccompanied Minors. “Teri was a legend. So funny, so beautiful, so kind. I had the honor of working with her in 2006 and she was everything I dreamed she would be. Truly one of my comedy heroes. I couldn’t have loved her more. This is such a loss.”
Michael McKean, who costarred with Garr in 1999’s Kill The Man, wrote, “I will always love Teri Garr.”
Producer Gale Ann Hurd wrote, “A truly fantastic actor and person…we worked together briefly on Dick and I’ll never forget her. Valiant as she dealt with the ravages of MS, never complaining, terrified she’d lose her SAG health insurance. We live in a country where #TerriGarr had to worry about that.”
Deadline will be adding additional tributes as they arrive…