This news is stunning. Willie Garson has passed away at the age of 57. Garson was best known to most audiences for his roles in Sex and the City (as Stanford Blatch) and White Collar (the con man/thief Mozzie). He was an old-fashioned character actor, with a lengthy CV full of TV shows and movies. He had most recently been on the New York set of And Just Like That, the HBO Sex and the City update. The SATC women are completely devastated, and many of them have already issued statements. Willie was close friends with Sarah Jessica Parker in real life, and their friendship predated SATC.
Reportedly, Garson had been suffering from pancreatic cancer for a short time. People Magazine confirmed that he was surrounded by family when he passed. His family included his son Nathen Garson, whom he adopted in 2009. Garson was a huge advocate for adoption and fostering in addition to being a beloved actor. HBO released a statement about his passing:
“Willie Garson was in life, as on screen, a devoted friend and a bright light for everyone in his universe. He created one of the most beloved characters from the HBO pantheon and was a member of our family for nearly 25 years. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
I really wonder how And Just Like That will handle the Stanford character, especially since (from what I understand) they are still filming?
Willie’s son Nathen also posted a tribute to his father too. Heartbreaking.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Sweet Mozzie – RIP
Loved him on White Collar. RIP Willie.
I hope he did not suffer and RIP. Loved his character Stanley.
RIP such a loss
This is just so sad. He was too young.
What sad and surprising news. He was wonderful & funny as Stanford, just so lovable. RIP Willie
I was stunned when I heard. He really seemed to be a genuine soul. And he could really rock all the crazy outfits. Rest in peace <3
Such sad news. I love him in White collar, which i still watch when there is nothing else to watch. RIP Mozzie Rest Easy. Am i the only one who is over Sex and the City? I used to love watching it but i have no interest in the new project
Read the room, @Lili.
Seriously. Willie was always SJP’s Number One Cheerleader when it came to getting their latest SATC project off the ground so this is not appropriate.
Oh for Christ’s sake, I didn’t know that, Lili probably didn’t know that, and even if we did – we are allowed to disagree with a wonderful actor on his assessment of a project that he clearly loves personally and has a different view of than us. Nothing about that is “not appropriate”.
Lili’s comment is heartfelt. What she feels about SATC is her opinion, not an insult. In fact I agree with her, I’m over SATC and will not watch the latest version.
Awww, RIP till His second coming. Condolences to his loved ones
When I watch older movies or TV shows, and he pops up, I go “It’s him!” and he’s always delightful. Thoughts to his family.
Cancer sucks.
I just loved him as Stanford, he was so good in that role and what a sweet, kind man he appeared to be. I’m so sorry that his family has to go through this great loss.
I cried reading his son’s post last night. I remember the story of Willie deciding to adopt. It was so wonderful and he was so open about it. You can see what a good dad he was to Nathen just by how the IG post reads. Cancer is a bitch.
Yes, his son’s tribute was heartbreaking to read. May he RIP.
I loved his character Mozzie on White Collar and Stanford was cute but I LOVE LOVE LOVED his real person tweets! I feel for his son who looks to be in college. This one was a shocker and hits close to home. My mother passed away also at 57 after a really short bout with cancer (11 weeks from diagnosis to death) I wonder if that was how fast this was. May he RIP.
As I recall his son was seven years old when Willie adopted him from foster care as a single man. One of the most wonderful acts of pure and true fatherhood I can imagine. I hope his son is surrounded by love and safety. RIP Mozzie!
So incredibly sad.
Loved him in every show he’s been on. Such a sad loss. RIP
Really sad to hear this news. Loved him so much on White Collar — I don’t think anyone else could have made that character so twinkly and appealing.
All cancer sucks, but pancreatic cancer especially sucks.
I am also sad to hear this as well. Willie is such a lovely man with an incredible heart and so much love to give, I am so touched that he took the opportunity to adopt, yet my heart breaks for his son. Willie was so young and my heart breaks for his son.
RIP Willie as you are free from your pain now.
I lost my sister in July from pancreatic cancer, the. 26th. She passed 9 months after her diagnosis of stage 4. It’s an awful disease that is incredibly hard to fight and win against, even with the best treatments available.
Soooo sorry for your loss, sending you big hugs.
I don’t follow a lot of famous folks on social…but I followed him 😍😢
I’m very saddened by this news. My heart breaks for his son.
This makes me so sad! 😭 I’m sorry for his son. He was so young. What a loss. I cannot imagine SATC without him either.
I used to see him at the gym in LA about 16 years ago. He was very sweet, kept to himself and no airs at all. I loved him on SATC. I hope his son has a large and strong support system around.
Pancreatic cancer is intense in how quickly it takes people from us. Even people who up to then have been quite healthy. We all thought my aunt would be the long end of prognosis and it was shocking to have it be the shortest timeframe.
I hope his family got to spend many final happy moments with him, he was a sunny delight as an actor.
He was so good in everything. May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted.
Such sad news! Had no idea he had cancer. May he rest in peace
He was the Bestie we all wished we had.
Reportedly, Stanford is in the first episode of And Just Like That.
I hope his character goes on, as in, Stanford and his husband decided to buy a beautiful boat and sail away for an unspecified period of time and they will enjoy each other and all the lovely ports and sunny beaches along the way sipping Champagne and noshing on wonderful appetizers and nasty caviar or maybe a luxury cruise! One of those cruises that lasts a year or much longer. A luxury cruise would be fitting. Maybe they hit the lottery or inherited money.
I like to think that’s what Willie is doing now. Bon Voyage, Willie!
May he rest in peace
I was stunned when I read this, Rest In Peace.
What a terrible loss. My heart aches. He elevated every project he worked on. Loved him as Mozzie. God bless you, Willie Garson. We are all poorer for your passing.
So heartbreaking to lose another wonderful person to this horrid disease. I hate cancer so much. praying for his son, family and friends.
Ugh I’m so upset. RIP
I loved loved loved his portrayal of Mozzie on White Collar. What a beautiful tribute by his son. Hope Willie Garson does indeed have fabulous adventures on the other side.
+1 He was good in pretty much everything. Mozzie was my favorite. RIP.
Pancreatic cancer is such a deadly disease and I hate that it takes people from us too soon. I only know Willie Garson from Sex and the City and while the show may have been problematic, I always enjoyed his character. I’ll have to check out White Collar because I really only know him from SATC. My condolences to the SATC family, his friends, and especially to his son.
I loved him…in everything. I think Mozzie most of all. His son’s tribute broke my heart. Sweet, loving & poignant. I know he & SJP were great friends in life but I am waiting, sadly to see her turn this about herself. I hope I am wrong
I loved him as Stanford “Stanny” in SATC. His character was always so funny. I also loved him in Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore.
He seemed like such a sweet soul. Bless him and his son Nathan.
So sad. I knew him from Stargate SG-1. All the behind-the-scenes showed a sweet person who was having a lot of fun with the role.
He was such a lovable alien as Martin Lloyd on Stargate SG-1. In all his performances his sweetness shone through.
He was the star of every scene he was in in SATC. I was sad when I heard the news.
Pancreatic cancer is such a b*tch.
I’m so sorry for him and his loved ones.
Oh no. F**king cancer. Rest in peace
The episode where Carrie falls in the fashion show and the next model stepped over her and he gasped and called her fashion roadkill is one of my favorites. He was such a great actor. My condolences to his son.