Chris Noth had no idea his And Just Like That co-star Willie Garson had cancer

Sex and the City alum Chris Noth had no idea his longtime castmate Willie Garson was sick before his sudden death, age 57, from pancreatic cancer on September 21.

‘Most of us didn’t know,’ the Wisconsin-born, Connecticut-raised 67-year-old admitted to The Guardian on Monday.

‘The last time I saw him was on set and I kick myself because I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him. He was extraordinarily fun and funny and there’s nothing to say but that it’s heartbreaking. It’s sad for everyone, and for the show, because I think he was going to have a really huge storyline. But he’ll be in it to the extent that he filmed.’   

'Most of us didn't know': Sex and the City alum Chris Noth (pictured in 2020) had no idea his longtime castmate Willie Garson was sick before his sudden death, age 57, from pancreatic cancer on September 21

RIP: Willie Garson pictured in 2010

‘Most of us didn’t know’: Sex and the City alum Chris Noth (L) had no idea his longtime castmate Willie Garson (R) was sick before his sudden death, age 57, from pancreatic cancer on September 21

Chris played financier John James Preston/Mr. Big and Willie played talent agent Stanford Blatch in the original HBO series, two film spin-offs, and HBO Max revival And Just Like That.

Garson (born Paszamant) was last publicly seen August 1 on the Manhattan set kissing the cheek of his castmate and friend Sarah Jessica Parker.

The New Jersey native is survived by his 21-year-old son Nathen, whose 2009 adoption at age seven was ‘the honor’ of his life.

Noth also revealed he was team SJP in her feud with former castmate Kim Cattrall, who refused to reprise her role as PR exec Samantha Jones in And Just Like That after calling Parker ‘cruel’ and a ‘hypocrite’ on Instagram in 2018. 

The Wisconsin-born, Connecticut-raised 67-year-old admitted to The Guardian on Monday: 'The last time I saw him was on set and I kick myself because I didn't really get a chance to talk to him. He was extraordinarily fun and funny and there's nothing to say but that it's heartbreaking. It's sad for everyone, and for the show, because I think he was going to have a really huge storyline. But he'll be in it to the extent that he filmed'

The Wisconsin-born, Connecticut-raised 67-year-old admitted to The Guardian on Monday: ‘The last time I saw him was on set and I kick myself because I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him. He was extraordinarily fun and funny and there’s nothing to say but that it’s heartbreaking. It’s sad for everyone, and for the show, because I think he was going to have a really huge storyline. But he’ll be in it to the extent that he filmed’

23 years together on set! Chris played financier John James Preston/Mr. Big and Willie played talent agent Stanford Blatch in the original HBO series, two film spin-offs, and HBO Max revival And Just Like That

23 years together on set! Chris played financier John James Preston/Mr. Big and Willie played talent agent Stanford Blatch in the original HBO series, two film spin-offs, and HBO Max revival And Just Like That

Gay best friend: Garson (born Paszamant) was last publicly seen this past summer on the Manhattan set kissing the cheek of his castmate and friend Sarah Jessica Parker (L)

Gay best friend: Garson (born Paszamant) was last publicly seen this past summer on the Manhattan set kissing the cheek of his castmate and friend Sarah Jessica Parker (L)

Legacy: The New Jersey native is survived by his 21-year-old son Nathen (R, pictured May 23), whose 2009 adoption at age seven was 'the honor' of his life

Legacy: The New Jersey native is survived by his 21-year-old son Nathen (R, pictured May 23), whose 2009 adoption at age seven was ‘the honor’ of his life

‘I have to tell you, I have absolutely no idea what her thinking is, or her emotions. I do know that I’m very close with SJ and [Cattrall’s] descriptions of her don’t even come close,’ the four-time SAG Award nominee shrugged.

‘I liked her, I thought she was marvelous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don’t know what hers were. I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it was sad and uncomfortable.’

Chris added: ‘I just don’t like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she’s a target and people can be nasty. I feel very protective of her and I was not happy about that. That’s all I’ll say about that.’

As for the haters who think SJP, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis look too old now, Noth blasted: ‘Yeah, because it’s 25 years later! We’re normal people, we get older, we adjust – why, don’t you?’ 

'I have absolutely no idea what her thinking is': Noth also revealed he was team SJP (L) in her feud with Kim Cattrall (R), who refused to reprise her role as PR exec Samantha Jones in And Just Like That after calling Parker 'cruel' and a 'hypocrite' on Instagram in 2018

‘I have absolutely no idea what her thinking is’: Noth also revealed he was team SJP (L) in her feud with Kim Cattrall (R), who refused to reprise her role as PR exec Samantha Jones in And Just Like That after calling Parker ‘cruel’ and a ‘hypocrite’ on Instagram in 2018

The four-time SAG Award nominee (pictured in 2018) shrugged: 'I do know that I'm very close with SJ and [Cattrall's] descriptions of her don't even come close. I liked her, I thought she was marvelous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don't know what hers were. I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it was sad and uncomfortable'

The four-time SAG Award nominee (pictured in 2018) shrugged: ‘I do know that I’m very close with SJ and [Cattrall’s] descriptions of her don’t even come close. I liked her, I thought she was marvelous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don’t know what hers were. I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it was sad and uncomfortable’

Chris (pictured November 7) added: 'I just don't like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she's a target and people can be nasty. I feel very protective of her and I was not happy about that. That's all I'll say about that'

Chris (pictured November 7) added: ‘I just don’t like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she’s a target and people can be nasty. I feel very protective of her and I was not happy about that. That’s all I’ll say about that’

As for the haters who think SJP (M, pictured July 16), Cynthia Nixon (L), and Kristin Davis (R) look too old now, Noth blasted: 'Yeah, because it's 25 years later! We're normal people, we get older, we adjust – why, don't you?'

As for the haters who think SJP (M, pictured July 16), Cynthia Nixon (L), and Kristin Davis (R) look too old now, Noth blasted: ‘Yeah, because it’s 25 years later! We’re normal people, we get older, we adjust – why, don’t you?’

'I was a little uncomfortable with the, um, in the second one': The Yale School of Drama grad had to have 'a long conversation' with producer-writer-director Michael Patrick King to be convinced to return as Mr. Big after the dismally-reviewed movies Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010)

‘I was a little uncomfortable with the, um, in the second one’: The Yale School of Drama grad had to have ‘a long conversation’ with producer-writer-director Michael Patrick King to be convinced to return as Mr. Big after the dismally-reviewed movies Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010)

The Yale School of Drama grad had to have ‘a long conversation’ with producer-writer-director Michael Patrick King to be convinced to return as Mr. Big after the dismally-reviewed movies Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010).

‘They did pretty well [at the box office], though,’ Chris defended.

‘On my side of it, I thought it was less – I was a little uncomfortable with the, um, in the second one, how the issues between Carrie and Big were resolved. I don’t remember [the films], to tell you the truth. I just remember the series being a lot of fun. I saw the movies once at the premieres and that was it.’

Noth’s wife of nine years – Tara Wilson – is mystified at how he gets cast as suit-wearing, power-broker types. 

Chris' wife of nine years - Tara Wilson (L, pictured in 2017) - is mystified at how he gets cast as suit-wearing, power-broker types: 'She said, "I don't think people realize that you're kind of schlubby"'

Chris’ wife of nine years – Tara Wilson (L, pictured in 2017) – is mystified at how he gets cast as suit-wearing, power-broker types: ‘She said, “I don’t think people realize that you’re kind of schlubby”‘

'In front of the people's house! A beautiful house!' The couple's son Orion Christopher - turning 14 next month - pictured July 23

'Morning teatime and a very important discussion on the nature of trucks': The couple's 22-month-old son Keats pictured September 7

Two boys: Noth and the Canadian 39-year-old share their three homes in Massachusetts, New York, and Los Angeles with their son Orion Christopher (2-L) – turning 14 next month – and 22-month-old son Keats (R)

‘My wife put it perfectly when she said: “I don’t think people realize that you’re kind of schlubby,”‘ the A New York Christmas Wedding actor laughed.

Chris and the Canadian 39-year-old share their three homes in Massachusetts, New York, and Los Angeles with their son Orion Christopher – turning 14 next month – and 22-month-old son Keats.

Catch more of Noth as Mr. Big in the 10-episode revival And Just Like That…, which premieres this Thursday on HBO Max.   

Smooch it up: One of the highlights of the trailer is seeing Parker kiss her husband Mr Big, played by Chris Noth, following much speculation over their relationship status

‘Hello It’s Me’: Catch more of the Doctor Who guest star as Mr. Big in the 10-episode revival And Just Like That…, which premieres this Thursday on HBO Max

'I love Queen Latifah!' Chris also stars as ex–CIA director William Bishop in the eight-episode second season of The Equalizer, which resumes January 2 on CBS

‘I love Queen Latifah!’ Chris also stars as ex–CIA director William Bishop in the eight-episode second season of The Equalizer, which resumes January 2 on CBS

The Doctor Who guest star also plays ex–CIA director William Bishop in the eight-episode second season of The Equalizer, which resumes January 2 on CBS. 

‘I love Queen Latifah,’ Chris – who commands $503 on Cameo – gushed.

‘I say this all the time to SJ: I’ve been riding on the coat-tails of female actors for a long time, and it’s carried me along!’

source: dailymail.co.uk