Eddie Garrett (né Edward Gehrt; November 19, 1927 – May 13, 2010)[1] was an American actor best known for his role on the NBC television series, Quincy, M.E., in which he portrayed a silver-haired photographer for the Los Angeles coroner's office in more than 100 episodes of the series.[2]
Garrett was born as Edward Gehrt on November 19, 1927, to parents, Robert and Anna Gehrt.[3] He was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin[2] He became interested in acting by doing impressions of Bing Crosby for his parents.[2] Ultimately, Garrett learned more than 100 voices and impressions, which he would later use in a nightclub act that lasted more than 16 years.[2]
Both of Garrett's parents died within nine months of each other when he was 13 years old.[3] He was sent to live with aunts, first in Sacramento, California and then to Los Angeles.[3]
His film credits included a role as a bartender in the 1977 film, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, opposite Diane Keaton and a police officer in the 1971 film, Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood.[2] On television, Garrett was best known for playing a coroner's office photographer in more than 100 episodes of Quincy, M.E. throughout the 1980s.[2] His other television credits included roles on Medical Center, Batman (episode 39) and Ironside.[2] Garrett also appeared on The Odd Couple, opposite Jack Klugman, a personal friend.[2]
In 2006, Garrett published a book, I Saw Stars ... In the 40s and 50s. His book included more than one hundred photographs which he had taken of actors as a high school student.[2]
Garrett died of a stroke at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, on May 13, 2010, at the age of 82.[2] He was survived by his wife, Maggie Hartshorn, whom he married in 1957,[3] and two stepdaughters, Carla Jean Hartshorn and Susan Licursi.[2]