Willie Garson’s heartwarming bond with his son Nathen revealed—'We’re partners, my kid and I'

The tragic news of Sex and the City’s Willie Garson’s death has rocked the entertainment world, prompting an outpouring of tributes from cast, crew, fans—and of course, his beloved son. 

The US actor, best known for playing Stanford Blatch on the hit HBO TV series, died aged 57 on Tuesday. 

Willie's untimely passing was confirmed by Nathen Garson, his 20-year-old son, who took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late father. The college student posted a number of touching photos of his dad in happier times, as well as a poignant message, in honor of his legacy. 

Sex and the City executive Michael Patrick King also released a statement following the news, celebrating Willie's “spirit and dedication” during the filming of the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That. “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,” he wrote. 

As fans of the show grieve the loss of the iconic actor, we thought we’d take a look back at his incredible life—including his Sex and the City stardom, his relationship history, and his heartwarming bond with his son, Nathen. 

Was Willie Garson married?

Willie Garson did not have a spouse and has never been married. He had spoken about his bad luck with romance in the past, attributing many of his real-life dating issues to his on-screen persona as Standford Blatch. 

“At the beginning, you would approach someone at a bar and realize, ‘Oh, they want to be Stanford’s best friend.’ They don’t necessarily want to sleep with you,” he said.

Did Willie Garson have children?

Willie Garson may not have ever married, but that doesn’t mean he never had kids. The New Jersey native fulfilled his dream of becoming a father in 2009 after adopting a seven-year-old son named Nathen. He made the decision to become a single parent after realizing having a child—rather than a relationship—was his top priority in life. 

“I had a long relationship off and on for like 20 years, and she never wanted to have a child, which is fine,” he told Page Six last year. “And it was like my mid-life crisis. Like, I really wanted a child more than anything else. And I got one and we’re partners, my kid and I.”

Nathen regularly shared sweet photos of him and Willie on his Instagram page before his passing, much to the delight of Sex and the City fans. The adorable father-son duo can be seen enjoying a litany of activities—including hiking and playing music—on the wholesome profile. 

Who did Willie Garson play in Sex and the City? 

Willie Garson played Stanford Blatch, a highly successful New York talent agent who also happened to be Carrie Bradshaw’s closest male friend. He was introduced to audiences in the show’s 1998 pilot and went on to appear in 27 episodes over the course of the series’s six seasons. Stanford was also featured in both of the Sex and the City movies, marrying his former arch-nemesis Anthony Maratino at the beginning of the sequel film. Sociable, driven, and feisty, he remained a loyal companion to Carrie throughout the show, consistently supporting her despite her questionable treatment of him. 

Willie was also known as the show’s most prominent openly gay character, an experience he didn’t share in real life. He rarely spoke about his heterosexuality, fearing that he would hurt LGBTQ+ by publicly acknowledging it. 

“For years I didn’t talk about it because I found it to be offensive to gay people,” Garson told Page Six in October 2020. “People playing gay characters jumping up and down screaming that they’re not gay, like that would somehow be a bad thing if they were.”

How did Willie Garson die? 

The nature of Willie Garson's illness has not been confirmed, but it has been reported that the actor was suffering from pancreatic cancer.