Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio. Her father, Eddie Garr (né Gonnoud), was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road. Her mother, Phyllis Lind (née Emma Schmotzer), was a dancer, Rockette, wardrobe mistress, and model. Garr is a graduate of Magnificat High School, an all-girl's Roman Catholic high Read more...

Early in her career she was sometimes credited as Terri Garr, Terry Garr, Teri Hope, or Terry Carr. Garr's movie debut was as an extra in 1963's A Swingin' Affair. During her early career she appeared in several Elvis Presley movies, usually in uncredited roles as a dancer. She had a cameo appearance as a damsel in distress in The Monkees film Head.She also played a role on The Andy Griffith Show. Read more...

Teri Garr said that in 1990 a woman called her at around 4:30 A.M. telling Garr that she slept with Garr's boyfriend. An enraged Garr drove to her ex-boyfriend's house and smashed the windows. The ex-boyfriend called police. Once police arrived Garr talked to the police and left. Police never filed charges against Garr.

In October 2002, Garr made it public that she has multiple sclerosis. Read more...