His son, Nathen Garson, announced his father’s passing on Instagram on Tues., Sept. 21. The actor, whose screen credits included more than 75 films and 300 episodes of TV over the course of his career, most famously played Carrie’s beloved pal Stanford Blatch in the Sex and the City franchise A cause of death was not initially disclosed, but on Sept. 22, several outletsreported that Garson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “I love you so much papa. Rest in Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were able to accomplish so much. I’m so proud of you. I will always love you, but I think it’s time for you to go on an adventure of your own,” son Nathen wrote on Instagram. “You’ll always be with me. Love you more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You always were the toughest and funniest and smartest person I’ve known. I’m glad you shared your love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it.” Garson, a single father who adopted Nathen and raised him on his own, was also a standout as Mozzie on the long-running USA series White Collar. But it was his role as Stanford on SATC that made him a household name. With perfect comedic timing, he delivered some of the franchise’s most delicious one-liners. In a famous Season 4 episode, when Carrie fell on the runway during her brief stint as a model, it was Stanford who declared, “Oh, my god, she’s fashion roadkill!” Garson also played Stanford in the Sex and the City movies and most recently was filming the franchise’s upcoming revival series, AndJust Like That…, for HBO Max. Many fans of the SATC franchise have been waiting to see what star Sarah Jessica Parker would say about Garson on social media, given that they had been friends for decades. (They actually met on a blind date long before Sex and the City premiered.) When co-star Chris Noth took to Instagram to mourn Garson with a photo of him with Parker, the actress made her first statement about her friend’s death when she wrote in a comment, “Thank you dearest Chris. I’m not ready yet. Xxx” She then shared her own Instagram post on Sept. 24, which included several photos of her and Garson from the past decades. She began her post by explaining that her “silence” was “a statement of the gravity. The anguish. The magnitude of the loss of a 30+ year friendship.” She continued, “Willie. I will miss everything about you. Your absence a crater that I will fill with blessing of these memories and all the ones that are still in recesses yet to surface.” Her post ended with, Godspeed Willie Garson, RIP, X, SJ." Born William Garson Paszamant in Highland Park, New Jersey, Garson earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in theater from Wesleyan University and a master of fine arts from the Yale Drama School. On Twitter, his Sex and the City husband, Mario Cantone, wrote, “I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner. I’m devastated and just overwhelmed with sadness. Taken away from all of us way soon. You were a gift from the gods. Rest my sweet friend. I love you.” In a statement shared with Deadline, Sex and the City executive producer Michael Patrick King reflected on Garson’s gifts. “His spirit and his dedication to his craft was present every day filming And Just Like That. He was there—giving us his all—even while he was sick,” wrote King. “His multitude of gifts as an actor and person will be missed by everyone. In this sad, dark moment we are comforted by our memory of his joy and light.” The official AJLT Instagram account echoed King’s sentiments in its own tribute. “Willie Garson was in life, as on screen, a devoted friend and a bright light for everyone in his universe,” the account posted. “He created one of the most beloved characters from the HBO pantheon and was a member of our family for nearly twenty-five years. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.” In what turned out to be his final tweet, Garson fittingly wrote on Sept. 4, 2021, “BE KIND TO EACH OTHER…… ALWAYS. LOVE TO ALL. APPROACH KINDNESS.” Co-stars remembered Garson on social media, including SATC’s Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall and WhiteCollar star Matt Bomer. The morning after Garson’s passing, Davis shared three photos of Garson—including one with son Nathen, one that shows Garson lifting Davis off her feet in a hug and a third of Garson side by side with Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker. “Willie is beloved by our entire community. He was smarter and funnier than you ever would have imagined. We are bereft without him,” she wrote, adding, “Nothing gave him more joy and pride than his son Nathen.” She closed by writing, “I am thankful for all of the time we had and grateful that so much of your bright light is on film forever… We love you forever.” Nixon tweeted hours before, “So deeply, deeply sad we have lost Willie Garson. We all loved him and adored working with him. He was endlessly funny onscreen and in real life. He was a source of light, friendship and show-business lore. He was a consummate professional—always.” Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones on Sex and the City and the two SATC movies, added, “Such sad news and a terribly sad loss to the SATC family. Our condolences and RIP dear Willie.” Bomer likewise kept his tribute short and sweet when he wrote, “I love you forever, Willie Garson. Rest in peace my friend.” Other celebs who posted in Garson’s honor on Tuesday night included Ben Stiller, Bradley Whitford, JulieBowen, Jason Alexander and more.
Is Willie Garson in the new Sex and the City?
Weeks before Garson passed away, the actor was filming in New York City, reprising his role as Stanford in the revival of Sex and the City, titled And Just Like That. So far, no AJLT release date has been announced, nor is it known if filming on the AJLT season is complete. At press time, there has been no word about how Garson’s passing this may impact the series.
Willie Garson’s most memorable roles
In addition to his best-known performances on Sex and the City and White Collar, Garson appeared on the HawaiiFive-O reboot as Gerard Hirsch, who is skilled with illegal and stolen art. On NYPD Blue, Garson had a recurring and memorable role as Henry Coffield, a very nerdy building superintendent. He also acted in the Farrelly brothers films There’s Something About Mary (playing Dr. Zit Face), Fever Pitch (as Kevin) and Kingpin (playing a purse snatcher).
