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Willie Garson

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Willie Garson
Portrait of Garson wearing a blue dress shirt and leaning on his hand
Garson in 2018
Born
William Garson Paszamant

(1964-02-20)February 20, 1964
DiedSeptember 21, 2021(2021-09-21) (aged 57)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1986–2021
Children1

William Garson Paszamant (February 20, 1964 – September 21, 2021) was an American actor. He appeared in over 75 films and more than 300 TV episodes. He was known for playing Stanford Blatch on the series Sex and the City, in the related films Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2 and in the spin-off And Just Like That..., Mozzie in the series White Collar from 2009 to 2014, Ralph in the 2005 romantic comedy Little Manhattan, Gerard Hirsch in the reboot of Hawaii Five-0, and Martin Lloyd in the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1.

Early life and education

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William Garson Paszamant was born in Highland Park, New Jersey, on February 20, 1964, the son of Muriel (née Schwartz) and Donald M. Paszamant.[1] Garson was Jewish.[2] He attended Camp Wekeela in Hartford, Maine, as a child for 11 years.[3]

He graduated in 1982 from Highland Park High School.[4] In 1985, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Wesleyan University[4][5] and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale Drama School.[6][7]

Career

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Television

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Garson had a recurring role as Henry Coffield on NYPD Blue and as Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City.[8] His other television appearances include Mr. Belvedere,[9] My Two Dads, Coach ("The Loss Weekend" episode as a clerk), Quantum Leap (once as a newspaper salesman/hack writer, and once as Lee Harvey Oswald), Twin Peaks, Monk, Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World (playing four different characters in the latter two shows' universe), Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Star Trek: Voyager (in the episode "Thirty Days"), Special Unit 2, Just Shoot Me!, Ask Harriet, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends (as Ross Geller's neighbor in the episode "The One With the Girl Who Hits Joey"), The X-Files (twice and as two different characters), Cheers (as a waiter in the episode "Cape Cad"), Yes, Dear, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Pushing Daisies, Stargate SG-1 (3 episodes), Wizards of Waverly Place, CSI: Miami, Mental, Spin City, and Taken. He co-starred in the 2007 HBO series John from Cincinnati. He co-starred as Mozzie in the USA Network series White Collar from 2009 to 2014.[10] From 2019 to 2020, he was a regular guest star on the syndicated game show 25 Words or Less.

Film

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Garson also appeared in three movies from the Farrelly brothersKingpin, There's Something About Mary,[9] and Fever Pitch. His other film credits include Groundhog Day, Just Like Heaven, The Rock,[9] Fortress 2: Re-Entry, Being John Malkovich,[9] Freaky Friday, Labor Pains, and Out Cold. He made a cameo in the end credits of Jackass Number Two,[11] with the full context of the cameo being explained in Jackass 2.5.[12] His last film role was in Before I Go (2021).

Personal life and death

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Garson adopted a seven-year-old boy in 2009.[13][14] Though he is mainly known for having played an openly gay man on Sex and the City, he was heterosexual.[15]

Garson died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 21, 2021, at age 57.[16][17][18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Price of Life Father Short film
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Bruce
1990 Nowhere Land Store Owner Short film
Brain Dead Board Member
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Frat Boy
Repossessed Nerd Student
1991 Across the Tracks Salesman
The Walter Ego Egg w/ Glasses Short film
Soapdish Nitwit Executive
Mobsters Telephone Operator
1992 Ruby Lee Harvey Oswald
1993 Groundhog Day Phil's Assistant Kenny
Untamed Heart Patsy
When the Party's Over Vic Montana
Daybreak Simon
1994 Cityscrapes: Los Angeles John
Black Sheep Anthony Guifoyle
Every Breath Bob
Speechless Dick
1995 Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead Cuffy
The Tie That Binds Ray Tanton
1996 Alone in the Woods Lyle
The Destiny of Marty Fine Jack
The Rock Francis Reynolds
Kingpin Purse Snatcher
Mars Attacks! Corporate Guy
1997 Cyclops, Baby Willie
1998 There's Something About Mary Dr. Zit Face/High School Pal
Living Out Loud Man in Elevator
1999 The Suburbans Craig
Being John Malkovich Guy in Restaurant
Play It to the Bone Cappie Caplan
2000 Our Lips Are Sealed Agent Norm
Fortress 2 Stanley Nussbaum
What Planet Are You From? Brett
2001 Out Cold Ted Muntz
2002 Luster Sonny Spike
2003 Special Suspicious Wheelchair Guy Short film
Freaky Friday Evan
A Problem with Fear Erin
2004 The Crux Man Holding the Rope Short film
Seeing Other People Suspicious Wheelchair Guy Short film
House of D Ticket Agent
2005 Fever Pitch Dr. Kevin
Just like Heaven Maitre D'
Little Manhattan Ralph
2006 Thank Heaven Grant Strong
The TV Set Brian
Zoom Dick
2007 Hard Four Orville Chisholm
2008 Beau Jest Joel Goldman
Sex and the City Stanford Blatch
2009 Shannon's Rainbow Richard
Labor Pains Carl
2010 Ashley's Ashes Limus
Sex and the City 2 Stanford Blatch
Monster Heroes Tom Trudell
2012 Fops The King Short film
Periods.
2014 Walk of Shame Dan Karlin
2017 The Polka King Lonny
Feed Mr. Brack
2019 7 Days to Vegas Danny
2020 The Bellmen Alan
Magic Camp Casino Manager
2021 Before I Go Francis

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Deliberate Stranger Miniseries
Family Ties Walter Episode: "Paper Chase"
Cheers Waiter Episode: "The Cape Cad"
You Again? Clerk Episode: "Quit Is a Four Letter Word"
The Disney Sunday Movie Gladstone's Assistant Episode: "The Leftovers (31.7)"
1986–1987 Newhart Mr. Whorley / Steve 2 episodes: "Desperately Desiring Susan: Part 2"; "Reading, Writing, and Rating Points"
1986–1990 Mr. Belvedere Carl Recurring role
1987 My Two Dads Tom Episode: "Crime and Punishment"
1988–1989 It's a Living Phil Roman 3 episodes
1989 Coach Clerk Episode: "The Loss Weekend"
Peter Gunn Rusty TV movie
Chicken Soup Waiter Episode: "Double Date"
1989–1992 Quantum Leap Alik Idell / Lee Harvey Oswald / Seymour 3 episodes
1990 Thirtysomething Ray Episode: "Good Sex, Some Sex, What Sex, No Sex"
Booker Mac Larson Episode: "Mobile Home"
1991 Twin Peaks Heavy Metal Roadie Episode #2.20
American Playhouse Father Episode: "The Price of Life"
1993 Moon Over Miami Episode: "Watching the Detectives"
L.A. Law Jay Berg Episode: "Odor in the Court"
Big Al Ricki TV short
Flying Blind Leech Boy Episode: "The Bride of Marsh Man 2: The Spawning"
A League of Their Own Clark Powell Episode: "Marathon"
1993–1999 Boy Meets World Leonard Spinelli / Mervyn / The Minister 4 episodes
1994 Renegade Tommy Episode: "Once Burned, Twice Chey"
Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice Associate TV movie
1995 Pig Sty Hansen 2 episodes: "Mr. Nice Guy"; "Leap Into an Open Grave"
MADtv Lee Harvey Oswald Episode: "Kato Kaelin/Poison"
The Barefoot Executive Assistant TV movie
Partners Larry Episode: "Do We Have to Write You a Check?"
Mad About You Randall Episode: "New Year's Eve"
1995, 1999 The X-Files Quinton 'Roach' Freely / Henry Weems 2 episodes: "The Walk"; "The Goldberg Variation"
1996 Touched by an Angel Eddie Brenner Episode: "Dear God"
1996–1999 NYPD Blue Henry Coffield 7 episodes
1997 VR.5 Strange Guy Episode: "Sisters"
Caroline in the City Annoying Guy Episode: "Caroline and the Monkeys"
The Practice D.A. Frank Shea 2 episodes: "Trial and Error"; "Dog Bite"
1997–1998 Melrose Place Dr. Mosley 2 episodes: "Secrets and Wives"; "Coop de Grace"
Ally McBeal Alan Farmer / Frank Shea 2 episodes: "Compromising Positions"; "These Are the Days"
1998 Ask Harriet Ronnie Rendall Main cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Security Guard Episode: "Killed by Death"
Conrad Bloom Spencer Episode: "Gone with the Re-Wind"
Party of Five Mr. Kroop 3 episodes
Star Trek: Voyager Riga Episode: "Thirty Days"
1998–2004 Sex and the City Stanford Blatch Recurring role
1999 Friends Steve Cera Episode: "The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey"
Just Shoot Me! Kurt Episode: "Miss Pretty"
Early Edition Willie Dretler Episode: "The Out-of-Towner"
Come On Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story Sam TV movie
Nash Bridges Leonard Voss Episode: "Crosstalk"
2000 City of Angels Norman Lewis Episode: "Cry Me a Liver"
Hollywood Off-Ramp Episode: "And on Your Left..."
Level 9 Bones 2 episodes: "Mail Call"; "DefCon"
Spin City Ned Episode: "Blind Faith"
2000–2006 Stargate SG-1 Martin Lloyd 3 episodes
2001 Going to California Percy Utley Episode: "A Pirate Looks at 15 to 20"
2001–2002 Special Unit 2 Amphorian / Cupid / Little Brother / Ross Bowman 2 episodes: "The Brothers"; "The Love"
2002 Taken Dr. Kreutz 2 episodes
2003 Greetings from Tucson Mr. Gargan Episode: "Counseling"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bud Simmons / Sexy Kitty Episode: "Fur and Loathing"
Harry's Girl TV movie
2004 All About the Andersons Bud Barber Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball"
Yes, Dear Gordon Episode: "Kim and Gordon"
The Division Deke Episode: "The Box"
Monk Leo Navarro Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Panic Room"
Wild Card Alan Farmer / Brad Pitt Episode: "Die, Die, Who Am I?"
2005–2006 CSI: Miami Ian Sutter / Ian Sutton 2 episodes: "Sex & Taxes"; "If Looks Could Kill"
2006 Las Vegas Pete Natelson Episode: "Bait and Switch"
2007 John from Cincinnati Meyer Dickstein Main cast
2008 Chocolate News Larry Turner Episode: "Episode #1.1"
2009 Imagination Movers Pants Armstrong Episode: "Second Chance Pants"
Wizards of Waverly Place Mr. Frenchy Episode: "Fashion Week"
Pushing Daisies Dick Dicker Episode: "Window Dressed to Kill"
Medium Alan Hitchens Episode: "The Talented Ms. Boddicker"
Mental Leonard Steinberg Episode: "Rainy Days"
2009–2014 White Collar Mozzie Main cast
2011 The Whole Truth Episode: "The End"
2011–2015 Whole Day Down Willie Main cast
2012 Hot in Cleveland Dr. Brotz Episode: "God and Football"
2013 Two and a Half Men Dr. Steven Staven Episode: "Run, Steven Staven! Run!"
Wendell & Vinnie Jury member Episode: "Mock Law & Order"
How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) Harry Episode: "How to Live with the Academy Awards Party"
2014 Girl Meets World Harrison Miller Episode: "Girl Meets Popular"
Franklin & Bash Dr. Nick Beckman Episode: "Kershaw v. Lincecum"
2015 Weird Loners Carl Episode: "Weird Knight"
2015–2020 Hawaii Five-0 Gerard Hirsch Guest role (seasons 5, 7–9), recurring role (season 6)
2016 The Mysteries of Laura George Tilieu Episode: "The Mystery of the Downward Spiral"
2017 Scandal Protester Episode: "Day 101"
2018 Salvation Dr. Carson Episode: "Get Ready"
2019–2020 Supergirl Steve Lomeli 3 episodes
2019 Conversations in L.A. Dr. Kerr Episode: "Wed-Lock"
Magnum P.I. Gerard Hirsch Episode: "Blood Brothers"
2020 Big Mouth Various voices 3 episodes
2021 And Just Like That... Stanford Blatch Posthumous release; 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Home News Tribune: "MURIEL PASZAMANT FLANAGAN AGE: 77 NEW YORK, NY".Garson leaves his sister, Lisa ( Paszamant ) Clark and brother, John Paszamant February 11, 2010
  2. ^ @WillieGarson (December 25, 2017). "As a Jewish person..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Rymer, Chris (June 2012). "'Summer Stock', Interview with Willie Garson" (PDF). Portland Monthly (Summer Guide): 149–154.
  4. ^ a b "Willie Garson". biography.com. Biography Channel. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2020. Garson attended Highland Park High School, and after graduating in 1982 he continued on to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut...
  5. ^ "Does 'The Carrie Diaries' have room for Willie Garson '85?". Wesconnect.Wesleyan.edu. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Shafer, Ellise (September 21, 2021). "Willie Garson, 'Sex and the City' and 'White Collar' Actor, Dies at 57". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  7. ^ Di Nunzio, Miriam (September 21, 2021). "Willie Garson, starred as Stanford Blatch on 'Sex and the City,' dies at 57". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  8. ^ Watkins, Gwynne (June 21, 2011). "Willie Garson of Sex and the City and White Collar Tells 12 Odd Stories From 12 TV Roles – Slideshow". Vulture. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d Lee, Luaine (June 22, 2000). "GARSON LOOKS FORWARD TO NEW SEASON, MORE JOBS". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  10. ^ "White Collar Cast Reunites for Family Dinner". E! Online. December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  11. ^ "Jackass Number Two – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Andrew, Stephen (September 22, 2021). "Johnny Knoxville Remembers Willie Garson's 'Jackass' Appearance in Touching Tribute". Pop Culture Media. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "SATC Actor Willie Garson Finalizes Son's Adoption". People. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010.
  14. ^ "Exclusive: Meet Willie Garson's New Son Nathen!". People. March 5, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Cooper, Mariah (April 27, 2016). "Willie Garson says 'Sex and the City' diversified LGBT representation". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  16. ^ Cordero, Rosy (September 21, 2021). "Willie Garson Dies: 'Sex And The City' Star Was 57". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Boucher, Ashley (September 21, 2021). "Sex and the City Star Willie Garson Dead at 57". People. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Jiminez, Jesus; Allen, Jordan (September 23, 2021). "Willie Garson, 'Sex and the City' Actor, Dies at 57". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
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