Actor Willie Garson has passed away at the age of 57. Garson is best known for his roles as Stanford Blatch on HBO’s Sex and the City and Mozzie in the USA Network series White Collar. He was a prolific actor who appeared in over 75 films and 300 television episodes, including several Sex and the City properties.
Born William Garson Paszamant, Garson began his career in television featuring in small roles on shows like Family Ties and Cheers. He then went on to play larger parts in both film and television, including that of JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, whom he portrayed in three separate roles. Garson’s big break came in 1998 when he made his first appearance as Stanford Blatch, a stylish gay talent agent and close friend of Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw. Garson reprised his role in both subsequent Sex and the City films and the upcoming HBO Max revival series, And Just Like That. Garson was also known for his role as conman Mozzie in the USA Network series White Collar, doorman Ralph in the 2005 film Little Manhattan, and Gerald Hirsch in CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 reboot.
As reported by Variety, a family member confirmed Garson’s death on September 21, however the cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Several co-stars, friends, and Sex and the City executive producer Michael Patrick King took to social media to pay tribute to the actor and express their condolences. Garson is survived by his son Nathen, who he adopted in 2009, after which he served as an active spokesperson for National Adoption Day. Nathen shared an emotional tribute to his father on Instagram. View his post, and other tributes from Garson's former co-stars, below:
Garson appeared in a total of 27 episodes throughout Sex and the City's six seasons and was recently spotted in New York City filming the revival series. His character was loved by both fans and co-stars alike, who appreciated the earnestness that Garson brought to Stanford. HBO and HBO Max released a joint statement expressing their condolences and appreciation for Garson’s devotion to the role. Garson’s co-stars Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda Hobbes, and Mario Cantone, who played Anthony Marentino, also reached out to pay their respects in touching Twitter posts.
Fans can expect the heartwarming reunion of Stanford and Carrie when the HBO Max show premieres later this year. In addition to Garson, Parker, Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Chris Noth are all set to return to the revival series. And Just Like That will be the final appearance of the vibrant Stanford Blatch, and the final on-screen performance for Willie Garson, whose presence will be sincerely missed by the Hollywood community and his loving fans.
Source: Variety