Sex and the CitystarMario Cantoneis remembering his on-screen husband,Willie Garson.

Garson, who played Stanford Blatch — the best friend ofSarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw and husband of Cantone’s Anthony Marentino — in theSex and the Cityfranchise, died of pancreatic cancer in September. He was 57.

During an interview withGilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcaston Sirius XM Tuesday, Cantone saluted Garson’s “brilliant” and “hilarious” performance inthe HBO Max revivalAnd Just Like That…

“Willie, he’s in the first three episodes,” Cantone said of Garson reprising his role. “He’s so alive, brilliant, and hilarious in this.”

He shared that Garson’s death was “a real shock” adding: “None of us knew, and it was just, it was terrible, very sad. And he was an incredible father to his son, Nathen, that’s all he talked about was Nathen. He loved him very much. Nathen is 18 years old.”

Willie Garson and Nathen in 2019.Tommaso Boddi/Getty

willie nathen garson

He explained that while he and Garson didn’t see one another often because they “lived on separate coasts,” whenever they reunited for events like readings on Zoom during COVID-19, “we were always texting each other, talking s—.”

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Many of Garson’s costars paid tribute to the late actor after his death.

Kristin Davis, who portrays Charlotte York in the franchise, shared a series of photos of Garson on herInstagrampage, including a special one of him and his son Nathen.

Mario Cantone, Sarah Jessica Parker and Willie Garson filming “And Just Like That…” in July.Gotham/GC Images

Mario Cantone, Sarah Jessica Parker and Willie Garson are seen filming “And Just Like That…” the follow up series to “Sex and the City” on July 23, 2021 in New York City.

Parker also reflected on their friendship, which spanned over three decades, in herInstagramtribute, writing, “It’s been unbearable. Sometimes silence is a statement. Of the gravity. The anguish. The magnitude of the loss of a 30 + year friendship.”

“Willie. I will miss everything about you. And replay our last moments together. I will re-read every text from your final days and put to pen our last calls,” Parker continued. “Your absence a crater that I will fill with blessing of these memories and all the ones that are still in recesses yet to surface.”

Cynthia Nixon, who stars as Miranda Hobbes,tweeted, “So deeply, deeply sad we have lost@WillieGarson. We all loved him and adored working with him. He was endlessly funny on-screen and and in real life. He was a source of light, friendship and show business lore. He was a consummate professional— always.”

Executive producer Michael Patrick King told PEOPLE that Garson’s “spirit” and “dedication” were ever-present on set.

“TheSex And The Cityfamily has lost one of its own, our amazing Willie Garson,” King said. “His spirit and his dedication to his craft was present everyday filmingAnd Just Like That… .”

source: people.com