# Willie Garson

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

William Garson Paszamant was born in Highland Park, New Jersey, on February 20, 1964, the son of Muriel (née Schwartz) and Donald M. Paszamant. Garson was Jewish. He attended Camp Wekeela in Hartford, Maine, as a child for 11 years.
He graduated in 1982 from Highland Park High School. In 1985, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Wesleyan University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale Drama School.

## Career
### Television

Garson had a recurring role as Henry Coffield on NYPD Blue and as Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City. His other television appearances include Mr. Belvedere, My Two Dads, Coach, 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, 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"), Nash Bridges in the episode Crostalk, 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. From 2019 to 2020, he was a regular guest star on the syndicated game show 25 Words or Less.

### Film

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

## Personal life and death

Garson adopted an eight-year-old boy in 2009. Though he is mainly known for having played an openly gay man on Sex and the City, he was heterosexual.
Garson died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 21, 2021, at age 57.

## Filmography
### Film

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

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger | | Miniseries |
| 1986 | Family Ties | Walter | Episode: "Paper Chase" |
| 1986 | Cheers | Waiter | Episode: "The Cape Cad" |
| 1986 | You Again? | Clerk | Episode: "Quit Is a Four Letter Word" |
| 1986 | 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" |
| 1989 | Peter Gunn | Rusty | TV movie |
| 1989 | 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" |
| 1990 | Booker | Mac Larson | Episode: "Mobile Home" |
| 1991 | Twin Peaks | Heavy Metal Roadie | Episode #2.20 |
| 1991 | American Playhouse | Father | Episode: "The Price of Life" |
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami | | Episode: "Watching the Detectives" |
| 1993 | L.A. Law | Jay Berg | Episode: "Odor in the Court" |
| 1993 | Big Al | Ricki | TV short |
| 1993 | Flying Blind | Leech Boy | Episode: "The Bride of Marsh Man 2: The Spawning" |
| 1993 | A League of Their Own | Clark Powell | Episode: "Marathon" |
| 1993, 1996, 1999 | Boy Meets World | Leonard Spinelli / Mervyn / The Minister | 4 episodes |
| 1994 | Renegade | Tommy | Episode: "Once Burned, Twice Chey" |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice | Associate | TV movie |
| 1995 | Pig Sty | Hansen | 2 episodes: "Mr. Nice Guy"; "Leap Into an Open Grave" |
| 1995 | MADtv | Lee Harvey Oswald | Episode: "Kato Kaelin/Poison" |
| 1995 | The Barefoot Executive | Assistant | TV movie |
| 1995 | Partners | Larry | Episode: "Do We Have to Write You a Check?" |
| 1995 | 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" |
| 1997 | Caroline in the City | Annoying Guy | Episode: "Caroline and the Monkeys" |
| 1997 | 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" |
| 1997–1998 | Ally McBeal | Alan Farmer / Frank Shea | 2 episodes: "Compromising Positions"; "These Are the Days" |
| 1998 | Ask Harriet | Ronnie Rendall | Main cast |
| 1998 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Security Guard | Episode: "Killed by Death" |
| 1998 | Conrad Bloom | Spencer | Episode: "Gone with the Re-Wind" |
| 1998 | Party of Five | Mr. Kroop | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | 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" |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Kurt | Episode: "Miss Pretty" |
| 1999 | Early Edition | Willie Dretler | Episode: "The Out-of-Towner" |
| 1999 | Come On Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story | Sam | TV movie |
| 1999 | Nash Bridges | Leonard Voss | Episode: "Crosstalk" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Norman Lewis | Episode: "Cry Me a Liver" |
| 2000 | Hollywood Off-Ramp | | Episode: "And on Your Left..." |
| 2000 | Level 9 | Bones | 2 episodes: "Mail Call"; "DefCon" |
| 2000 | 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" |
| 2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Bud Simmons / Sexy Kitty | Episode: "Fur and Loathing" |
| 2003 | Harry's Girl | | TV movie |
| 2004 | All About the Andersons | Bud Barber | Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball" |
| 2004 | Yes, Dear | Gordon | Episode: "Kim and Gordon" |
| 2004 | The Division | Deke | Episode: "The Box" |
| 2004 | Monk | Leo Navarro | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Panic Room" |
| 2004 | 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" |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Mr. Frenchy | Episode: "Fashion Week" |
| 2009 | Pushing Daisies | Dick Dicker | Episode: "Window Dressed to Kill" |
| 2009 | Medium | Alan Hitchens | Episode: "The Talented Ms. Boddicker" |
| 2009 | 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!" |
| 2013 | Wendell & Vinnie | Jury member | Episode: "Mock Law & Order" |
| 2013 | 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" |
| 2014 | 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" |
| 2019 | 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 |