KEY POINTS

  • William Garson, 57, passed away after a short illness
  • He was surrounded by his family when he died Tuesday afternoon
  • His "Sex and the City" and "White Collar" co-stars paid tribute to him online

Willie Garson passed away after a short illness, according to a report.

The actor died Tuesday afternoon while surrounded by his family. He was 57.

Garson reportedly battled cancer prior his demise, but this was not confirmed as his cause of death.

He played Stanford Blatch, Sarah Jessica Parker's on-screen best friend in HBO's "Sex and the City" spinoff movies. He's also part of the cast in the upcoming reboot "And Just Like That," People reported

The late actor was previously photographed on the New York set of the spinoff with Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and Mario Cantone, who plays as his on-screen husband, Anthony Marentino. Following Garson's passing, several of his co-stars took to social media to pay tribute to him.

"I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner. I’m devastated and just overwhelmed with Sadness," Cantone wrote on Instagram with a photo he took with the late actor. "Taken away from all of us way soon. You were a gift from the Gods sweet Willie. Rest …I love you."

Cynthia Nixon also paid tribute to Garson. She shared a photo of them on Twitter and accompanied it with a heartwarming caption.

"So deeply, deeply sad we have lost @WillieGarson. We all loved him and adored working with him," she wrote. "He was endlessly funny on-screen and in real life. He was a source of light, friendship and show business lore. He was a consummate professional— always."

His "White Collar" co-star Matt Bomer also shared an emotional post on Instagram. He uploaded several photos he captured with Garson and wrote a lengthy caption detailing how much the latter touched his life.

"Willie. I don’t understand. And it’s not fair," he wrote. "This past year, you taught me so much about courage and resilience and love. I still haven’t wrapped my head around a world without you in it — where I can’t call you when I need to laugh, or be inspired. The last thing you did when we said goodbye was pull down your mask (I hate covid), smile, and wink at me."

Bomer remembered Garson as someone who "lifted me up, who made me better, and who always, always made me smile." He also stressed that the "White Collar" family was always there for him and for each other.

"I love you forger Willie Garson. You live on in our hearts and minds always. And your 'White Collar' family is always here for Nathen [Garson's son]. Save a place for me, because you know I want to be at your table up there," he concluded his post.

Willie Garson
Willie Garson recently weighed on reports about “Sex and the City” 3’s cancelation. Pictured: Garson attends The Alliance For Children’s Rights 25th Anniversary Celebration at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Mar. 16, 2017 in California. Getty Images/Alberto E. Rodriguez