Garlin studied filmmaking and began performing stand-up comedy as a student at the University of Miami in the 1980s. He left the university without completing a degree in order to pursue his comedy career.

Garlin has toured the country as a stand-up, is an alumnus of Chicago's Second City Theatre, and has written and starred in three critically-acclaimed solo shows, Someone to Eat Cheese With, Uncomplicated, and Concentrated.

On television, Garlin co-stars and executive produces the critically acclaimed HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. The show stars Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, and won the 2001 AFI Comedy Series of the Year Award. Garlin spent three seasons on NBC's Mad About You in the role of Marvin. In addition to his acting career, Garlin has also directed both Jon Stewart (Unleavened) and Denis Leary (Lock-n-Load) in their respective HBO specials, as well as several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Garlin has also had his own HBO half-hour comedy special.

(wikipedia.org)