Hollywood is grieving the loss of Teri Garr, a beloved actress admired for her charm, humor, and talent.
Garr, aged 79, passed away on Tuesday after a long struggle with multiple sclerosis.
Garr, 79, passed on Tuesday after a long fight with multiple sclerosis. Her publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, shared that Garr was surrounded by family and close friends at the time.
In 2002, Garr publicly revealed her diagnosis on “Larry King Live,” admitting that she had quietly managed the condition for almost 20 years before opening up.
She explained she hadn’t spoken out sooner because doctors took years to confirm the diagnosis, which she described as “a hard one” to identify. Even once she knew, Garr said she didn’t feel the need to share it widely.
Garr’s career was legendary. She brought laughter and depth to the screen, with memorable roles in classics like Young Frankenstein and Mr. Mom.
Her role as Sandy Lester in the 1982 comedy Tootsie earned her an Academy Award nomination, marking her as a strong comedic talent. She leaves behind a legacy of laughter and love.
Garr’s passing has sparked tributes from friends, fans, and colleagues, including actors Michael Keaton, Mel Brooks, and Lisa Kudrow.
Keaton, who starred with her in Mr. Mom, shared his sadness, calling it “a day I feared.” He remembered her as wonderful both on and off set and encouraged people to revisit her work.
Kudrow, who acted with Garr in Friends, honored her as “a comedic genius” and said working with her was a blessing.
Director Brooks, who cast Garr in Young Frankenstein, expressed deep sadness. He praised her humor and remembered how her character’s “German accent” brought joy to the set.
Screenwriter Cinco Paul wrote a heartfelt tribute, calling her “never the star, but always shining,” crediting her with adding magic to everything she did.
Film producer Paul Feig also shared his sorrow, describing Garr as “a legend” and saying she was “one of my comedy heroes.” He expressed how deeply her passing touched him.
Garr was born in Ohio in 1944 to parents in entertainment. Her father performed in vaudeville, and her mother was a Rockette who later worked in costume production.
The family, including her two brothers, moved to New Jersey before settling in Los Angeles. Sadly, her father passed away when she was 11. Reflecting on her mother’s strength, Garr once shared how her mother “put two kids through school” while working in the studio costume department.
After studying ballet, Garr left college and moved to New York to pursue acting. She trained at the Actors Studio and Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, going on to an extraordinary career with over 150 film and television roles.
Her career left a lasting impact on audiences, bringing smiles and joy through unforgettable characters.
Garr’s presence and talent will be greatly missed. She brought warmth, humor, and light, leaving behind memories that will forever touch the hearts of fans. Rest in peace, Teri Garr.
Teri Garr, the beloved actress known for her warmth, wit, and talent, has passed away, leaving Hollywood in mourning.
Pop Icon Cyndi Lauper Battles Secret Illness: The Painful Truth Behind Her ‘True Colors
There’s something magical about Cyndi Lauper, the lively artist behind the 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” a song that quickly became a global anthem, encouraging women everywhere to embrace fun and freedom.
Lauper is the definition of cool. Her quirky, carefree personality, playful fashion, and colorful hair inspire people with her message to always be yourself.
However, behind the playful voice that spreads joy to her listeners, Lauper battles a severe skin condition called psoriasis. At one point, it was so intense that, as she described, “It looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”
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The legendary pop star, now 69, recently opened up about her ongoing battle with psoriasis—a chronic skin condition that has no cure—since she was first diagnosed in 2010.
Psoriasis can cause severe pain, itching, discomfort, and rough, scaly patches on the skin. About 8 million people in the U.S. and 125 million globally live with this condition.
Lauper’s symptoms started as scalp irritation and general discomfort, which worsened over time.
Initially, she thought her itchy scalp was from frequently coloring her hair, but the symptoms continued, causing both physical pain and emotional strain for the award-winning musician.
The “Time after Time” singer is a busy mother, touring pop star, and activist.
Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper has become a strong supporter of LGBT rights, working tirelessly to advocate for the community.
Her 2005 song “Above the Clouds” was written in honor of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student who was beaten to death in Wyoming. Lauper also started the “True Colors” concert tour in 2007-2008, which raises support for local and private LGBT charities and organizations.
Besides her advocacy, Lauper has an impressive career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. Over the past forty years, she has received many awards, including a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy Award for her role in a 1995 episode of the TV show *Mad About You*.
She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2013, her humanitarian work earned her a special invitation to attend President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.
Despite her diagnosis, Lauper continues to stay strong. She is committed to not letting psoriasis hold her back and works on managing stress to avoid triggering flare-ups.
When she was first diagnosed and dealing with severe psoriasis, Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical *Kinky Boots*, which won her a Tony Award for Best Original Score. She became the first woman to win a Tony in that category on her own. The show also won five more Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
In a conversation with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Lauper openly shared her experience living with the autoimmune skin condition, hoping her story might help others.
“I’ve never been able to really manage stress,” she admitted, explaining that she now takes a holistic approach to healing and stress relief both at home and on the road. She learned reiki, a Japanese technique for relaxation, saying, “That helps me.”
Along with reiki, Lauper works to stay grounded by meditating, practicing yoga, or taking walks in the fresh air with her dog and her husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997.
“It’s not a bad thing to take care of yourself,” Lauper said, urging people to always “make a little time for you.”
She encourages starting small. “How about five minutes for you?” she added.
Lauper speaks with resilience about her experience, explaining that “when psoriasis gets really bad, it’s really hard to get up again.” She shared that at times, she couldn’t regulate her body temperature, leading to chills that could result in hypothermia. Even when resting, her condition only worsened, and hearing people dismiss it as “just a rash” added to her struggles.
“You don’t have to suffer,” Lauper said. Treatments, such as topical and oral medication or injections, can help ease the often unbearable symptoms of psoriasis. For Lauper, she found relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx, and as a spokesperson for the medication, she happily shares that she’s been “four years clear.”
In 2017, Lauper spoke with HealthDay about managing her psoriasis.
“It’s funny—you start wearing gloves, or this and that, hoping [psoriasis] is invisible, but it’s not. I didn’t show it off, like, ‘Woo-hoo, check this out!’ Doesn’t everyone try to hide it? You’d be surprised how many people have it and don’t talk about it. It’s one of those invisible things, so it’s good to talk about it.”
She shares more about it on her podcast *PsO in the Know*, where she talks with celebrities, advocates, and everyday people who offer insights on living with psoriasis.
The show is now in its third season and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and Stitcher.
Lauper isn’t the only celebrity with psoriasis. Kim Kardashian, now 42, was diagnosed at 30 and is open about her challenges. Her mom, Kris Jenner, 67, had her first outbreak in her late 20s and said it was “life-changing.” Other celebrities with psoriasis include musician Art Garfunkel, 81, actor Jon Lovitz, 65, and Jerry Mathers, 74, known as “The Beaver.”
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