Garrison was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, the son of Earl B. Garrison, a school administrator and Maude B. Garrison, a teacher.
Garrison graduated from Freehold High School in 1970, where he began his acting career on the school's stage. He was inducted in the school's Hall of Fame in 2007. Garrison graduated summa cum laude from Boston University's College of Fine Arts in 1974. Following graduation, he became a member of the resident company at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. for several years.
Although he is known for his television roles and continues to appear frequently in guest-starring roles on television today, Garrison is primarily a theatre actor, particularly in musicals. He has appeared in numerous productions around the United States, including many Broadway shows. His Broadway appearances include A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Wicked, The Visit, Titanic, Torch Song Trilogy, The Pirates of Penzance, Bells Are Ringing, A History of the American Film, and The Great Society. His Off-Broadway credits include I Do! I Do!, for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination, Dead Poets Society, Middletown, New Jerusalem, Geniuses, It’s Only a Play, By the Way Meet Vera Stark, The Cradle Will Rock, and Silence! The Musical. In addition to the cast albums of Hollywood/Ukraine, Titanic, Bells Are Ringing, The Visit, I Do! I Do!, and On the Town, his many recordings include Songs of New York, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, Of Thee I Sing/Let ’Em Eat Cake, Girl Crazy, You Never Know, Tell Me More, Oh! Lady! Lady!!, George and Ira Standards and Gems, and, as a guest artist, Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers and Hart.”.

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