Actor Willie Garson, known for White Collar and Sex and the City, died at 57. His cause of death was not announced.
His son, Nathen Garson, announced his father’s passing on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. On Instagram, he wrote, “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’s notable roles came in his best friend/sidekick performances. On Sex and the City, he was Carrie Bradshaw’s friend Stanford Blatch, which he played during the original series from 1998 to 2004, as well as the movies and the upcoming HBO Max spinoff series, And Just Like That. Garson played Mozzie, a con man and sidekick to Neal Caffrey on White Collar from 2009 to 2014.
Born in Highland Park, New Jersey on February 20, 1964, Garson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater from Wesleyan University, followed by a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale Drama School.
His onscreen debut came in The Deliberate Stranger miniseries in 1986. Some of his roles in the late ‘80s included appearances on Family Ties, Cheers, My Two Dads, a recurring role on Mr. Belvedere, and the movie Troop Beverly Hills.
Garson continued doing guest spots and smaller roles in the early ‘90s on Thirtysomething, Twin Peaks, Soapdish, Quantum Leap, Groundhog Day, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, and Mad About You. He had recurring roles on Ask Harriet, Boy Meets World, and NYPD Blue. His late ‘90s roles were in Kingpin, Mars Attacks!, The Practice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, and The X-Files.
In the 2000s, Garson was in Out Cold, Freaky Friday, CSI, Monk, Just Like Heaven, Stargate SG-1, and he starred in the short-lived series John From Cincinnati. His 2010s roles were in Hot in Cleveland, Two and a Half Men, he starred in the show Whole Day Down, had a recurring role in Hawaii Five-0, did guest spots on Supergirl, and his last role is in the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That.
