American actress Teresa Magdalena Farrow, known as Tessa Farrow, died on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Her sister, Mia Farrow, confirmed the news in an emotional Instagram post, saying she died “unexpectedly” “apparently in her sleep.” She was 72 years old at the time.
Mia wrote, posting a photo of her sister:
“If there is a heaven, my beautiful sister Tessa is certainly being welcomed there. She was the best of us – (I) have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life and never complained. Ever.”
In addition to Mia's letter, their brother, John Charles Villiers Farrow, told The Hollywood Reporter that she died in Rutland, Vermont.
Mia Farrow is a model and actress with over 50 films to her credit. She is also a human rights activist and an active member of UNICEF. She was honored as the most influential person of 2008. She has six siblings, three brothers and two sisters, the youngest of whom is Tessa Farrow.
Tessa Farrow made a guest appearance in Woody Allen's 1979 classic, Manhattan
Tessa Farrow was born in 1951 to actress Maureen O'Sullivan and director and author John Farrow. She attended New Lincoln School in New York City but dropped out in the middle of her eleventh year to pursue an acting career. According to Variety, during her struggling days, Tessa was quite adamant about finding work for herself and didn't want “any benefits” despite her family's status.
In a 1970 interview with The New York Times, Tessa explained that she worked as a waitress while roaming the city looking for commercials, but was turned down by many after learning she was Mia's sister. She eventually made her screen debut in the 1970 film, homer, Portraying the role of the girlfriend of high school graduate Homer (Don Scardino) who is deeply affected by the Vietnam War.
She appeared in several films, including: zombies (1979), Anthrophagus (1980), and Fingers (1978). She made a special appearance in Woody Allen's 1979 film Manhattan. Her sister Mia has appeared in many of his films including, Rosemary's baby And Peyton Place.
During her 1970 interview with The New York Times, she discussed her family at length, including her relationship with her siblings.
“None of the girls are the same, but we all love each other… Mia is the strongest. She has a very strong, unsinkable personality.”
In 1980, Tessa Farrow stopped acting and worked as an emergency department nurse for 27 years. She married producer Terry Dean and the couple had a son, Jason, and a daughter, Bridge. Jason was a member of the US Army and died while stationed in Iraq.
However, she told The New York Times that she has always been the kid since she was the youngest.
“Oh, I'm the baby… even when my mother introduces me to people, she calls out, 'Baby, come here, baby,'” she recalls.
Tessa Farrow is survived by her daughter, Bridget, her grandson, Keylor, and her siblings, Mia, Prudence, Stephanie, and John. Her brothers Michael and Patrick died in a plane crash in 1958 and then committed suicide in 2009, respectively.
