Greg Garrison Producer Dean Martin Show

April 5, 2005 THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., April 4 - Greg Garrison, a pioneering television director who worked with stars like Dean Martin, Jack Benny, George Burns and Lucille Ball in a 40-year career, died on March 25 at his home here. He was 81. The cause was pneumonia, his wife, Judy, said. Mr. Garrison directed nearly 4,000 shows in his career, but was probably best known for his work on "The Dean Martin Show" (which ran from 1965 to 1974) and Martin's popular "Celebrity Roasts." He also directed "Your Show of Shows," the comedy-variety program that starred Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris. Mr. Garrison began his television career as a gofer for WFIL-TV in Philadelphia shortly after World War II. He was called to New York by the producer Max Liebman and the NBC executive Sylvester L. Weaver Jr. to direct "Your Show of Shows" from 1950 to 1952. At the same time, Mr. Garrison was directing "The Kate Smith Evening Hour," a live variety show. He also had stints directing "The Milton Berle Show" and "Ford Television Theater" in the 1950's, as well as numerous television specials over the years starring Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Jack Benny, George Burns, Lucille Ball, Phil Silvers, Bob Newhart and Jonathan Winters.