Willie Garson, a talented actor, had an impressive career spanning over three decades, with more than 300 television episodes and over 70 films to his credit.
Born in New Jersey, Garson began his training at the Actors Institute in New York before majoring in psychology and theater at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. After graduation, he quickly landed guest roles on various shows, including "Cheers," "Family Ties," "Thirtysomething," "L.A. Law," and many others.
Garson's favorite long-form role on TV was Dr. Kreutz in the acclaimed miniseries "Taken" (2002),directed by Steven Spielberg. He also appeared in many episodes of "Boy Meets World" and "Girl Meets World."
On the big screen, Garson collaborated with the Farrelly brothers on three films, including "There's Something About Mary," "Kingpin," and "Fever Pitch." He also appeared in "Soapdish," "Groundhog Day," "Mars Attacks!," "The Rock," "Being John Malkovich," and many others.
As a director, Garson directed episodes of "White Collar" and "Girl Meets World," and had TV shows in development with Warner Brothers as producer/creator.
In addition to his acting career, Garson was involved with various theater companies, including Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, the Roundabout Theater, and the Geffen. He was also a devoted philanthropist, supporting charities such as AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and the Alliance for Children's Rights.
Garson was a proud adoptive father and served as national spokesman for National Adoption Day. He was also a skilled poker player, known as "Evil Willie" on the first episode of "Celebrity Poker Showdown" (2003),and continued to play in tournaments worldwide, both for charity and through the World Poker Tour.
