Sex and the City star Willie Garson dead at 57 after ‘cancer battle’ 

Sex And The City’s Willie Garson has passed away at the age of 57.

Sources close to Garson told TMZ that the actor had ‘been battling cancer’ though it is not confirmed that the illness was the cause of his death.

Garson will reprise his role as Carrie Bradshaw’s close pal Stanford Blatch in the forthcoming Sex And The City reboot titled And Just Like That…, which began production in June.

He was last pictured on set of the production on July 24 as he shot a scene alongside the series’ central star Sarah Jessica Parker and comedian Mario Cantone in New York City.

Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda, was the first of the series’ leading ladies to comment on Garson’s sudden passing. 

‘So deeply, deeply sad we have lost @Willie.Garson,’ the actress began. ‘We all loved him and adored working with him.’

She went on to complement how ‘endlessly funny on-screen and and in real life’ he was, as well as being ‘a source of light, friendship and show business lore.’

‘He was a consummate professional— always,’ continued Nixon, before penning a note directly to Garson’s 20-year-old son Nathen.

Reboot: Garson was set to reprise his role as Carrie Bradshaw’s close pal Stanford Blatch in the forthcoming Sex And The City reboot titled And Just Like That…, which began production in June; pictured with Sarah Jessica Parker on July 24 in NYC

Last sighting: He was last pictured on set of the production on July 24 as he shot a scene alongside the series’ central star Sarah Jessica Parker and comedian Mario Cantone in New York City

‘My heart goes out to his son, @Nathen_Garson. Nathen, I hope you know how much he loved you and how proud he was to be your dad,’ she concluded.

Moments prior, Nathen had published a heartfelt Instagram tribute that included some of his favorite shots of Willie, as well as a playful video of him playing the trombone.

‘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,’ he began. 

‘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.

‘Deeply sad’: Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda, was the first of the series’ leading ladies to comment on Garson’s sudden passing

Adored: ‘So deeply, deeply sad we have lost @Willie.Garson,’ the actress began. ‘We all loved him and adored working with him’; the pair pictured in 2003

Tribute: Once news of Willie’s passing became public, Cantone took to Instagram to express his ‘devastation’ over the loss of his longtime friend

Brilliant partner: ‘I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner,’ began the 61-year-old actor, who included a sweet snapshot of him and Garson at the premiere of Sex And The City 2 in 2010

‘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 [your] love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it,’ he concluded. 

Mario Cantone was the first of the SATC cast members to express ‘devastation’ over the loss of his longtime friend Willie.

‘I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner,’ began the 61-year-old actor, who included a sweet snapshot of him and Garson at the premiere of Sex And The City 2 in 2010.

He continued: ‘I’m devastated and just overwhelmed with Sadness. Taken away from all of us way soon. You were a gift from the gods sweet Willie. Rest …I love you.’

Losing a father: Willie’s 20-year-old son Nathen published a heartfelt Instagram tribute in memory of his father; the pair pictured in 2019

Grateful for him: ‘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,’ he began. 

Precious moments: Nathen included some of his favorite shots of Willie, as well as a playful video of him playing the trombone

From 1998 until its series finale in 2004, Willie famously appeared in 27 of Sex And The City’s 98 episode run on HBO. 

His character Stanford Blatch was a ‘gay talent agent’ and close friend of Carrie’s who often struggled to overcome insecurities around dating in the big city.

Along with being apart of the beloved series, Garson also appeared in the first Sex And The City feature film in 2008 and its sequel, titled Sex and the City 2, in 2010.

With SATC soon making a return on HBO Max with the reboot And Just Like That…, Willie expressed excitement over ‘stepping into the shoes again’ in an interview with Us Weekly in June. 

Always there: ‘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,’ he continued

 ‘Funniest and smartest person I’ve known’: ‘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,’ wrote Nathen of his father

Never forget: ‘I’m glad you shared [your] love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it,’ he concluded

‘It didn’t hit me until I was in wardrobe yesterday and it was, like, literally stepping into the shoes again,’ he told the outlet of his first day on set.

‘It was great. I was just telling my friends … that I probably was wearing about $200,000 worth of clothing yesterday. And it was right away. It’s like, “Oh, this is us, here we are.”‘

Garson, who boasts 170 acting credits, has appeared in a plethora of other highly regarded television shows and films over the span of his impressive Hollywood career. 

Defining role: From 1998 until its series finale in 2004, Willie (pictured with Sarah Jessica Parker in 1998) appeared as ‘gay talent agent’ Stanford Blatch in 27 of Sex And The City’s 98 episode run on HBO

Modern Family’s Julie Bowen, who had a close bond with Garson, wrote on Twitter and Instagram that the news of his passing ‘breaks my heart.’

She continued: ‘Willie Garson, a friend who loved me at my worst, (and always let me know it) is gone. Goodbye, Fatty. I love you always.’

Bowen revealed that Garson jokingly ‘came to [her] wedding – begrudgingly’ due to its being held on Emmy Awards weekend in 2004.

She included a sepia-toned snap of her planting a kiss on Willie’s cheek during her wedding reception. 

Heartbreaking: Modern Family’s Julie Bowen, who had a close bond with Garson, wrote on Twitter and Instagram that the news of his passing ‘breaks my heart.

Memory: Bowen revealed that Garson jokingly ‘came to [her] wedding – begrudgingly’ due to its being held on Emmy Awards weekend in 2004