Larson was born in White Plains, New York, and began writing musicals at an early age. He studied theatre and music at Adelphi University and the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. After graduating, he moved to New York City and began working as a composer and lyricist for various off-Broadway productions.
In 1990, Larson began work on Rent, a rock musical based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème. The musical tells the story of a group of young artists and musicians living in the East Village of New York City in the 1990s. Rent was a critical and commercial success, winning Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Score.
Larson died suddenly of an aortic dissection on the morning of the first preview performance of Rent off-Broadway. He was 35 years old. Rent went on to become one of the most successful musicals in history, and has been performed all over the world. Larson's other works include the musicals Superbia and The Day the World Went Away.
Larson was a talented and innovative composer, lyricist, and playwright whose work has had a profound impact on the world of musical theatre. He is remembered as a visionary artist who pushed the boundaries of what is possible in musical theatre.