‘Tootsie’ star Teri Garr dies at 79

LOS ANGELES – Teri Garr, who was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the 1982 hit movie “Tootsie,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles, her publicist said.

Garr, 79, passed away after battling multiple sclerosis for decades, Heidi Schaeffer told AFP.

Comedy actor and singer Garr also appeared in the films “Young Frankenstein” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system; Its symptoms are characterized by muscle weakness and blurred vision.

The disease affects twice as many women as men, usually between the ages of 20 and 40.

Garr revealed that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 after dealing with the symptoms for the past two decades.

Schaeffer said he is a “fierce advocate for MS awareness.”

The journalist added that Garr “passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends.”