Willie Garson: How 'SATC' actor stayed in closet fearing he would offend gay fans
Willie Garson of 'Sex And The City' fame died at age 57 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Following his tragic death, the secret of his love life was finally revealed.
The New Jersey-born actor was famous for playing Stanford Biatch, a classy gay man, in the popular series. In real life, however, Garson was heterosexual and was once set up on a blind date with Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the show's main character, Carrie Bradshaw. What's more? Garson was reportedly also in a long-term relationship with a woman who did not want children and so he adopted son Nathen, now 20, by himself in 2009.
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How did Willie Garson die? 'SATC' actor's adopted son Nathen says 'proud of you papa'
Speaking to Page Six last year, the actor explained how fans were surprised that he was straight and how he managed to keep it a secret "for years" fearing the revelation would be "offensive" to homosexuals. "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 told the entertainment outlet. Garson also chimed in on his brief encounter with fellow SATC actress Parker. "I've known Sarah for 15 years — we were set up once, had a very long flirtation, and then just settled into being best friends, something I think really reads on the show," he explained.
Garson spoke of how he kept his sexuality a secret for the longest time. "For years I didn't talk about it because I found it to be offensive to gay people," he noted. "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. When the question would come up during the show I would say, 'When I was on White Collar no one ever asked me if I was a conman, and when I was on NYPD Blue, nobody ever asked me if I was a murderer. This is what we do for a living, portray people," he explained.
Garson, who also played Mozzie in 'White Collar', gushed about Nathen and his love of being a father last year. "He's an adult and soon to be taking care of me which is really why I got him to be honest. He's lovely and a really special guy. He's wonderful and he's in college in Ohio..." Garson said of his beloved son. "I had a long relationship off and on for like 20 years, and she never wanted to have a child, which is fine. 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."
Garson's character Stanford Biatch was a "gay talent agent" and a close pal of Bradshaw who often struggled to overcome his insecurities over dating in New York City. After becoming an indispensable character in the blockbuster series, he also appeared in the first 'Sex And The City' feature film in 2008 and its sequel 'Sex and the City 2' in 2010.
Nathen announced his father's death on Instagram: "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," the grieving son wrote. "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 your love with me. I'll never forget it or lose it."
Garson's death came while he was in the middle of filming the revival series 'And Just Like That...' His death has left the future of the storyline uncertain, after he was last seen visiting the set on August 3, the Daily Mail reported.
