Willie Garson, the actor who performed the beloved character Stanford Blatch in “Sex and the City” and its impending reboot, “And Just Like That,” with authentic-lifetime most effective friend Sarah Jessica Parker, has died. He was 57.
“Willie Garson was in life, as on-monitor, a devoted close friend and a bright mild for everybody in his universe,” an HBO Max spokesperson told The Post. “He produced one of the most beloved figures from the HBO pantheon and was a member of our spouse and children for just about 20-5 years. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and prolong our sincere condolences to his family members and beloved ones.”
The New Jersey indigenous reportedly handed amid a most cancers struggle, TMZ described, and spouse and children verified his death on social media.
His son Nathen, whom he adopted in 2009, wrote a heartbreaking post that he’s glad his dad “can be at peace now.”
“I adore you so substantially papa,” he shared on Instagram. “Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you received to share all your adventures with me and were capable to execute so considerably. I’m so happy of you. I will often appreciate you, but I consider it’s time for you to go on an experience of your very own. You’ll normally be with me. Enjoy you far more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You generally had been the hardest and funniest and smartest human being I’ve acknowledged. I’m happy you shared your love with me. I’ll by no means overlook it or shed it.”
Social media tributes to the actor flooded social media as information of his passing spread.
“There are no words. I really like you pricey brother. We are less,” wrote “Bosch” star Titus Welliver, with a photo of Garson, on Twitter.
“I could not have had a extra brilliant Tv spouse,” wrote Mario Cantone, who played Stanford’s partner Anthony Marentino on the demonstrate. “I’m devastated and just overcome with Disappointment. Taken absent from all of us way quickly. You had been a gift from the gods sweet Willie. Relaxation …I really like you.”
The Post’s request for comment from SJP has not yet been acknowledged by her camp, but embattled previous “SATC” star Kim Cattrall paid Twitter homage to the actor irrespective of rumors that Garson was offended about her “toxic” refusal to take part in the reboot.
Meanwhile, Garson’s last article on social media was about kindness on September 4: “BE Kind TO Just about every OTHER……ALWAYS. Appreciate TO ALL. APRROACH [sic] KINDNESS,” he tweeted.
Garson portrayed Carrie Bradshaw’s homosexual BFF on the hit HBO sequence from 1998 to 2004 and was a outstanding character in both of those of the films.
The actor was seen not long ago on the set of “And Just Like That,” the revival present presently in manufacturing on HBO Max.
“The ‘Sex and the City’ family members has dropped just one of its have. Our wonderful Willie Garson,” Michael Patrick King, the executive producer of “SATC” and “And Just Like That,” instructed Range. “His spirit and his commitment to his craft was current every day filming ‘And Just Like That.’ He was there — offering us his all — even though he was unwell. His multitude of gifts as an actor and person will be skipped by every person. In this unfortunate, dark moment we are comforted by our memory of his joy and light.”
“So deeply, deeply unhappy we have lost @Willie.Garson,” co-star Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda Hobbes on the exhibit, wrote on Instagram. “We all loved him and adored operating with him. He was endlessly humorous on-display screen and in genuine existence. He was a supply of light, friendship and demonstrate business enterprise lore. He was a consummate qualified — always. My heart goes out to his son, @Nathen_Garson. Nathen, I hope you know how a great deal he loved you and how proud he was to be your dad.”
“This is a tragedy for the full #SATC #AJLT spouse and children, for Willie’s family members, and for the entire world,” his “Sex and the City” co-star Evan Handler wrote. “Willie was a prince, the Mayor of each group he ever existed within, and – most importantly – a dad or mum. My coronary heart grieves for his son. A consumate humorous gentleman. Bless you.”
Supporters have been enthusiastic about the mysterious reboot, but for Garson, it was “weird” — but “normal” — to be participating in Stanford again.
“I feel the emotion was, ‘Oh, my God, this is so odd, correct?’” Garson explained to Web site 6 about the solid reuniting for a table examine in June. “And also, ‘Oh, my God, this is so wholly usual.’ So at the exact same time, this is the weirdest thing ever and this is actually just like, ‘Oh, right here we are all over again. One more fantastic episode.’”
“The lovers have kept us likely all this time, and that’s why we do it,” he additional. “So God bless us for being permitted to do this. And it is mainly because of the followers.”
When the clearly show not long ago shot a brunch scene at the East Pole on East 65th Road, crowds formed about the preferred cafe it was like A person Way was in town.
“The enjoyment from the fans was palpable,” East Pole owner Anthony Martignetti told The Article. “When [the cast] received out of the city cars and trucks, people were being screaming the characters’ names. They were genuinely freaking out for Stanford [Willie Garson].”
But his friendship with Parker, 56, extends to actual life, way too. Garson explained to People today in 2020 that Parker was “an inspiration to me when I was adopting.” Garson has a son named Nathen, who is all-around the same age as James Wilki, Parker’s son with Matthew Broderick.
“They’re buddies,” Garson says. “We go out to the seaside with them and have a excellent time.”
He also claimed they had been friends for 20 decades just before “Sex and the City” and even shared monitor time with each other in 1996 film “Mars Assaults!”
In reality, he achieved SJP after becoming set up on a blind day more than a decade just before the exhibit grew to become a hit on HBO.
“We were being set up once, experienced a very very long flirtation, and then just settled into currently being very best good friends, a little something I assume truly reads on the display,” Garson advised Out Journal 20 decades ago. “It’s humorous, she’s reported in interviews that just about every one 1 of her pals is homosexual ‘except for Willie Garson.’”
In October 2020, Garson advised Website page Six that he usually did not go over his sexuality so as not to offend.
“For decades I did not converse about it because I uncovered it to be offensive to homosexual people,” he said. “People taking part in gay characters jumping up and down screaming that they are not gay, like that would someway be a undesirable issue if they ended up.”
Further than his legendary character “Stanny,” Garson can be observed in more than 300 episodes of tv and additional than 70 movies, according to his bio, with credits such as “Little Manhattan” and “Hawaii 5-.”
Born William Garson Paszamant, he studied theater at Wesleyan College and been given a master of fantastic arts from Yale Faculty of Drama. Some of the early roles he took in his career were smaller sections, but massive tasks that are beloved right now like “Cheers,” “Family Ties,” “Boy Fulfills World,” “Melrose Location,” “Buffy,” “Ally McBeal” and “The X-Files.” On the major monitor, Garson acted in these films as “Being John Malkovich,” “Fever Pitch” and “There’s Some thing About Mary” and recently lent his voice to the animated series “Big Mouth.”
Garson also co-starred in the 2009-2014 United states Community sequence “White Collar,” opposite Matt Bomer (“American Horror Story”). In 2012 he advised Page 6 that he and Bomer bonded on the demonstrate from the starting — mainly because of personal tragedy.
“When we began the series, I obtained a contact with news that my mom was going to go absent,” Garson mentioned. “I didn’t know anybody on the set. Matt questioned, ‘What’s completely wrong?’ And I instructed him my mother was going to die. He hugged me and permit me cry. I realized he had my again. That reveals on-display screen.” Garson adds: “On this exhibit, we’ve been to hell and again — now we’re ideal close friends.”
Bomer, 43, posted a heartbreaking tribute to his co-star, who generally “lifted” him up.
“Willie. I do not have an understanding of. And it’s not fair,” he wrote. “This previous year, you taught me so a great deal about courage and resilience and really like. I nonetheless have not wrapped my head all over a planet devoid of you in it- the place I cannot simply call you when I need to laugh, or be impressed. The past matter you did when we stated goodbye was pull down your mask (I detest covid), smile, and wink at me. I know that it was not reflective of the ache you had been going by way of, but it was indicative of all the things you ended up and are to me: some just one who lifted me up, who produced me superior, and who constantly, always manufactured me smile. This also reminded me how solid our White Collar relatives is. We ended up all there for Willie, and for every single other.
I love you eternally Willie Garson. You are living on in our hearts and minds usually: and your White Collar family members is constantly listed here for Nathen. Conserve a place for me, since you know I want to be at your desk up there.”
Past “And Just Like That,” which does not have a premiere date still, Garson was functioning on Television set sitcom “Duke of the Valley.”