Suffering in silence for 20 years

AFTER nearly 20 years of dealing with the illness, Oscar-nominated actress Teri Garr has revealed that she has multiple sclerosis.

Garr, who was nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Sandy in the 1982 movie Tootsie, told CNN's Larry King on television Tuesday night that she kept the disease secret for years because she "didn't feel it was necessary to tell anybody".

"I really didn't think there was any reason to come out and say anything about it," she said.

Garr said she didn't know she had the disease for several years because MS is difficult to diagnose. She said she is speaking out to help other people deal with the disease.

"I think now, the good news is there is a lot of good medicine out there," she said. "If I can just help people to feel better."

In the 1980s, Garr was such a frequent guest on David Letterman's late-night talk show that she had to deny rumours they were romantically involved.

The comedic actress got her start as a dancer in the '60s, landing spots in several Elvis Presley movies, including Kissin' Cousins. She also starred in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Black Stallion and Dumb and Dumber.

MS is a nerve disease that causes symptoms including numbness, muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. There is no cure.

King disclosed during the interview that Garr is being treated for her multiple sclerosis with a drug manufactured by Serono of Switzerland, which has a co-promotional agreement with Pfizer for marketing in the United States. Serona and Pfizer fund a program called MS Lifelines, for which Garr is a paid ambassador, King said. -- Sapa-AP