Getty ImagesLisa Kudrow led the tribute to Oscar-nominated actress Teri Garr, who played her estranged biological mother on Friends.
Garr, who was also known for films including Young Frankenstein, Tootsie and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, passed away at the age of 79 in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
In a statement, Kudrow said she was “a comedic acting genius who has been a huge influence on me and I know I’m not alone in that”.
She added that she feels “so lucky and grateful” to work with her.
Young Frankenstein director and writer Mel Brooks also expressed his admiration for the actress, saying she was “so talented and so funny”.
“Her humor and bubbly spirit made Young Frankenstein a joy to work with. Her ‘German’ accent put us all on edge!”
The 1974 horror comedy, in which she spoke with a German accent as Gene Wilder’s laboratory assistant, was a breakthrough in Garr’s career.
Her other films include the 1983 comedy Mr Mom opposite Michael Keaton, who praised her work and called her “a wonderful woman, not only wonderful to work with but also wonderful to be around.”
Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 20 years ago and first spoke publicly about the chronic autoimmune disease in 2002 to raise awareness for others living with the disease.
The actress faced other health problems and had surgery to repair an aneurysm in 2007, the BBC’s US news partner CBS reported.
Getty ImagesGarr began her career as a background dancer in Elvis Presley’s films.
Her mother, also a former dancer, took her to dance classes when she was 6 years old.
Her first gig was joining the road company for West Side Story in Los Angeles.
She then began dancing in films before starring in TV shows such as Batman and Dr Kildare.
Garr’s big break came in 1974 when she played a supporting role in the horror film The Conversation.
Garr later established herself as a comedic actress, receiving an Oscar nomination for 1982’s Tootsie and appearing regularly on Late Night with David Letterman.
Garr also played dramatic roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Black Stallion, and appeared in television shows such as Star Trek and That Girl.
