Who Is Nathen Garson? The Untold Story of Willie Garson’s Son

fNathen Garson is the son of late actor Willie Garson, best known for playing Stanford Blatch in Sex and the City and Mozzie in White Collar. While viewers knew Willie through his television roles, Nathen knew him as the father who raised him, shared his sense of humor, and encouraged him through school and into adulthood.

Their story began with foster care adoption. Willie became a single father, and the relationship he built with Nathen became a central part of his life. It also encouraged him to speak publicly about finding permanent families for older children.

Nathen has since attended college, pursued work outside entertainment, and maintained a connection to adoption advocacy. His public tributes to Willie offer a personal glimpse into their years together—and the lessons he continues to carry from his father.

Quick Info About Nathen Garson

Nathen’s Early Life Before Adoption

Nathen spent part of his childhood in foster care before meeting Willie Garson. He was about seven when their paths crossed, and their family life began while he was still in elementary school.

Details about his biological parents and earliest childhood remain private. What Nathen and Willie later shared focused on the family they built together rather than the circumstances that came before it.

Willie did not approach parenthood as a temporary arrangement. He wanted a child and pursued adoption with that goal in mind. Nathen, too, wanted the adoption, something Willie repeatedly emphasized when discussing how they adjusted to life together.

That shared wish became an important part of their story. When Willie looked back on those first years, he described fatherhood as a relationship they developed together, with both of them learning along the way.

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How Willie Garson Became His Father

Willie had wanted children for years. Eventually, he decided to pursue parenthood without waiting to marry.

He sought guidance from the Alliance for Children’s Rights and the Westside Children’s Center in Los Angeles. Through the adoption process, he met Nathen in 2008. Months of visits, screenings, and paperwork followed before Nathen joined his household in 2009.

The legal adoption reached completion in January 2010. This explains why accounts of their family sometimes mention 2009 and others use 2010: Nathen began living with Willie before the final court proceedings.

Willie later described becoming a father as a major change in his priorities. His attention shifted toward caring for Nathen, making decisions for their household, and building a life together.

Their Adoption Day and First Celebration

January 27, 2010, became a date Willie remembered publicly.

Years later, he marked the adoption anniversary by sharing a courtroom photograph and a playful message telling Nathen that they would celebrate after work—and that his son would pay.

Their original celebration took place at Musso & Frank Grill, the longtime Hollywood restaurant. Father and son dressed in suits, shared a steak, and watched a waiter perform magic tricks.

It was a small celebration with specific details that Willie remembered fondly. The restaurant, the meal, and the suits became part of the story he told about officially becoming Nathen’s father.

In November 2022, Nathen shared a photograph from those adoption proceedings while drawing attention to a charitable fund in Willie’s name.

His Father, Willie Garson

Willie Garson built a long acting career through distinctive supporting characters. As Stanford Blatch in Sex and the City, he brought humor and warmth to Carrie Bradshaw’s circle of friends. As Mozzie in White Collar, he played the resourceful confidant of Matt Bomer’s Neal Caffrey.

His work also included films and numerous television appearances. Away from acting, he became a regular supporter of adoption organizations and spoke alongside Nathen about their family experience.

Willie’s connection to these causes grew from his own life as a parent. He supported the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Kidsave, and You Gotta Believe, helping draw attention to children who needed lasting family relationships.

Kidsave honored him as a Champion for Children in 2015. During his acceptance speech, he described fatherhood as his “most important and cherished role.” For Nathen, that side of Willie’s life was part of everyday family experience rather than a public performance.

Growing Up Together

Willie and Nathen spoke about their relationship with affection and humor.

When Nathen was younger, he enjoyed playing Nintendo Wii with his father. Willie also noticed how quickly his son picked up his jokes and expressions, sometimes repeating something Willie had said only an hour earlier.

Their conversations about adoption did not erase the ordinary details of family life. They talked about games, school, meals, and enjoying each other’s company.

Willie explained that adopting an older child suited him. Although he sometimes wished he had met Nathen sooner, he valued the relationship they already had and the personality his son brought into their home.

He also described them as partners in adjusting to their new life. That description reflected how he spoke about Nathen: as someone with his own voice, wishes, and role in their family.

College and His Interest in Tennis

Nathen Garson attended The College of Wooster in Ohio. His education history lists the years 2019 through 2023, placing his college experience after his childhood in California.

Willie spoke proudly about his son studying in Ohio. During an interview, he also joked that Nathen would soon be old enough to take care of him.

Tennis formed another part of Nathen’s life. His sporting history includes junior competition in Southern California, with records showing both singles and doubles matches. Tennis recruiting listings also connect him with Wooster.

These details show a side of Nathen separate from television premieres and family interviews. His school years included college study and competitive sport, alongside the public attention that came with being Willie Garson’s son.

Nathen Garson’s Work Outside Hollywood

Nathen’s work experience includes Premier Nissan of Harvey in Louisiana. His professional profile connects him with the dealership, giving a glimpse of his working life beyond his father’s entertainment career.

That background differs from Willie’s decades in film and television. Nathen has not announced a comparable long-term acting career or a major upcoming entertainment project.

His connection to a famous parent naturally attracts questions about whether he will follow the same path. So far, his professional history includes work outside Hollywood, while his most visible public activities involve family remembrance and adoption-related causes.

His personal net worth has not been disclosed. Estimates of Willie’s wealth do not establish Nathen’s finances or the value of anything he inherited.

Losing His Father in 2021

Willie Garson died on September 21, 2021, at age 57 after developing pancreatic cancer. Nathen was a college student at the time.

Following his father’s death, Nathen shared photographs, videos, and a message expressing his love. He remembered their adventures together and thanked Willie for the love he had given him.

His later tributes offered more detail about their relationship. On the first anniversary of Willie’s death, Nathen described him as a father, best friend, and mentor. He explained that Willie encouraged him to do better and helped shape the person he became.

Friends and former colleagues responded with messages of support. Matt Bomer and Kristin Davis were among those who acknowledged Nathen’s tribute and shared their own affection for Willie.

His Appearance at the And Just Like That… Premiere

In December 2021, Nathen attended the New York premiere of And Just Like That…, the continuation of Sex and the City.

Willie had returned as Stanford Blatch before his death. Nathen’s attendance connected the event with the actor’s family as colleagues and viewers prepared to see him on screen again.

Nathen posed with Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Chris Noth. He later shared photographs and thanked the organizers for inviting him, describing the visit warmly.

His girlfriend, Lexie, also appeared in photographs from the occasion. Reports identified them as a couple at that time; those appearances do not establish their current relationship status.

For Nathen, the premiere was a public moment of supporting a project that included his father’s work only a few months after losing him.

Adoption Advocacy and the Willie Garson Fund

Nathen Garson maintains a connection to You Gotta Believe, which lists him on its Board of Believers, an advisory board.

The organization helps older children, teenagers, and young adults in foster care find permanent families. Willie supported its mission during his lifetime and used interviews and fundraising appearances to discuss adopting older children.

After his death, Discovery Inc. established the Willie Garson Fund at You Gotta Believe. The fund supports the organization’s efforts to connect young people with families who commit to them for life.

Nathen helped bring attention to the fund by sharing it publicly. His participation connects his own adoption story with an organization his father cared about, while giving supporters a practical way to contribute in Willie’s memory.

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Final Thoughts

Nathen Garson’s life includes a childhood shaped by adoption, college in Ohio, tennis, and work beyond the entertainment industry. His relationship with Willie remains central to his public story, especially through the memories he has shared since his father’s death.

Those memories give readers something more personal than a celebrity family connection: a son’s account of the father who raised him, and an ongoing link to the adoption work they supported.

FAQs About Nathen Garson

Who is Nathen Garson?

Nathen Garson is the adopted son of late actor Willie Garson, best known for Sex and the City and White Collar.

How old is Nathen Garson?

Nathen Garson is around 25 years old in 2026.

When did Willie Garson adopt Nathen?

Nathen began living with Willie in 2009. His adoption became legally final on January 27, 2010.

Where did Nathen Garson attend college?

Nathen attended The College of Wooster in Ohio and played tennis.

Does Nathen Garson support adoption causes?

Yes. Nathen serves on You Gotta Believe’s Board of Believers and has promoted the Willie Garson Fund, which helps young people in foster care find permanent families.