Actor Willie Garson, known for his roles on the Sex and the City and White Collar, has died, according to his son, Nathen Garson. He was 57.
Garson had some 170 acting credits to his jacket and was a force in various supporting roles.
Nathen paid tribute to Garson on Instagram, writing:
“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. 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 you’re love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it.”
Garson, who was an advocate for adoption agencies, adopted his son, Nathen, in 2009 and marked the adoption in a January Instagram posting that read: “Best day of my life. Always. It’s an honor @nathen_garson, today and every day.”
An HBO/HBO Max spokesperson also confirmed Garson’s passing, and the network honored his contributions to one of its most iconic shows in a statement.
“Willie Garson was in life, as on screen, a devoted friend and a bright light for everyone in his universe,” the statement read. “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.”
According to his obituary, Garson’s cause of death has been revealed to be pancreatic cancer.
Co-stars and Hollywood pay tribute to Willie Garson
Tributes poured in from his co-stars and those whose lives he touched in Hollywood.
“The Sex and the City family has lost one of its own. Our amazing Willie Garson,” Michael Patrick King, the executive producer of SATC and And Just Like That, said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Mario Cantone, who played Garson’s on-screen husband Anthony Marentino on Sex and the City, lamented his TV partner’s death on Tuesday in a social media post.
Matt Bomer wrote, “Willie, I don’t understand. And it’s not fair. This past year, you taught me so much about courage and resilience and love. I still haven’t wrapped my head around a world without you in it — where I can’t call you when I need to laugh, or be inspired. The last thing you did when we said goodbye was pull down your mask (I hate covid), smile, and wink at me. I know that it wasn’t reflective of the pain you were going through, but it was indicative of everything you were and are to me: someone who lifted me up, who made me better, and who always, always made me smile. This also reminded me how strong our White Collar family is. We were all there for Willie, and for each other.
“I love you forever Willie Garson,” Bomer concluded. “You live on in our hearts and minds always. And your White Collar family is always here for Nathen. Save a place for me, because you know I want to be at your table up there.”
Here are some more of the tributes.
No. No. No. Terrific actor. The sweetest man. A great dad. I had a long talk with him before he went back to shoot SITC. He was so excited about what was to come. And so proud of what his son Nathen had become. No. No. No. Love to you Nathen and all who loved sweet Willie…. https://t.co/SoB709Mos6
— Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) September 22, 2021
A personal note on Willie Garson’s death
While reading Garson’s son’s post, I literally burst into tears. Unexpected death is always hard to wrap your head around, and the fact that the world just lost Michael K. Williams made this Willie’s death that much harder to comprehend.
In the majority of tributes Garson, like Williams, was remembered as one of the nicest people. Nice is highly underrated in Hollywood, and even in “real life.” I think what made Garson’s death so emotional for me was that Stanford and Mozzie were the “heart” of Sex and the City and White Collar.
Garson’s last post on social media read, “BE KIND TO EACH OTHER……ALWAYS. LOVE TO ALL. APRROACH KINDNESS.”
Let’s do right by Willie and all try to do just that.
We send our deepest condolences to Willie’s son, family, friends, and his legion of fans. Rest in greatness.
