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“I just reached a point of ‘What am I waiting for?’ " he told PEOPLE of choosing to become a parent without a partner. “I don’t care if I ever get married, but if I never have a kid?“He met Nathen at an adoption fair in Los Angeles in late 2008, noticing the 7-year-old balancing on a curb, he recalled.“I was like, ‘That’s my kid,’ " the actor told PEOPLE. “I knew it right then.“Garson died on Sept. 21following a short illness; prior to his death he frequently posted photos with his growing son, writing of their adventures together.Here, a throwback from 2010, posted in 2016. “This little dude, @nathen_garson, did me the huge honor of becoming my son,” Garson captioned a snuggly shot of the pair, asking people to help L.A.‘sAlliance for Children’s Rights, because “#everychilddeservesafamily.”
02of 20"January 27, 2010. Adoption Day, LA Children’s Court,“Garson wrotealongside this image. “Best day of my life. Always. It’s an honor @nathen_garson, today and every day.”
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“January 27, 2010. Adoption Day, LA Children’s Court,“Garson wrotealongside this image. “Best day of my life. Always. It’s an honor @nathen_garson, today and every day.”
03of 20On the ninth anniversaryof Nathen’s adoption day, Garson posted this image, joking, “We’ll have our traditional dinner when Dad comes home from work. You’re buying.”
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On the ninth anniversaryof Nathen’s adoption day, Garson posted this image, joking, “We’ll have our traditional dinner when Dad comes home from work. You’re buying.”
04of 20Garson shared moreabout the pair’s dinner tradition in 2018. “Always the counter, always Musso’s … so thankful to those who’ve stayed on this adventure with us, and for those who rode part of it with us, you all made and make a huge difference in our lives and are forever in our hearts.”
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Garson shared moreabout the pair’s dinner tradition in 2018. “Always the counter, always Musso’s … so thankful to those who’ve stayed on this adventure with us, and for those who rode part of it with us, you all made and make a huge difference in our lives and are forever in our hearts.”
05of 20"I’ve had a lot of jobs. One matters,” Garson wrote on Father’s Day 2018. “happy day y’all!!!”
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“I’ve had a lot of jobs. One matters,” Garson wrote on Father’s Day 2018. “happy day y’all!!!”
06of 20The two were often in sync, as in this #TBT photo from “somewhere in the Pacific Northwest,“as Garson wrote.
06of 20
The two were often in sync, as in this #TBT photo from “somewhere in the Pacific Northwest,“as Garson wrote.
07of 20Or here, when Nathentried on Dad’s signature specs, causing the actor to write, “He is my heart, forever.”
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Or here, when Nathentried on Dad’s signature specs, causing the actor to write, “He is my heart, forever.”
08of 20Garson frequently posted about the pair’s charity work for soup kitchens and Habitat for Humanity in New York, L.A. and beyond. Here,they served Thanksgiving mealsat the New Orleans Mission in 2015.
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Garson frequently posted about the pair’s charity work for soup kitchens and Habitat for Humanity in New York, L.A. and beyond. Here,they served Thanksgiving mealsat the New Orleans Mission in 2015.
09of 20And more recently, they delivered sack dinners to those in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “He is awesome,” Garson wrote of his helpful son.
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And more recently, they delivered sack dinners to those in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “He is awesome,” Garson wrote of his helpful son.
10of 20Nathen also joined Dadat some of his more glamorous charitable events, like the Elton John Oscar party in 2019.
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Nathen also joined Dadat some of his more glamorous charitable events, like the Elton John Oscar party in 2019.
11of 20And for National Adoption Day events, likethis one in L.A.in 2018.
11of 20
And for National Adoption Day events, likethis one in L.A.in 2018.
12of 20Garson alwaysgave Nathena shoulder to lean on.
12of 20
Garson alwaysgave Nathena shoulder to lean on.
13of 20And fun adventures, like a 2017 ski trip to Big Bear.
13of 20
And fun adventures, like a 2017 ski trip to Big Bear.
14of 20Garson posted this #TBTjust because he “missed this one.”
14of 20
Garson posted this #TBTjust because he “missed this one.”
15of 20Not just a regular dad, but a cool dad, diving into some watermelon with Nathenat Coachella 2018.
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Not just a regular dad, but a cool dad, diving into some watermelon with Nathenat Coachella 2018.
16of 20The two just had to visit Asbury Park, New Jersey’s famed Stone Ponywhile in the Garden Statein November 2019.
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The two just had to visit Asbury Park, New Jersey’s famed Stone Ponywhile in the Garden Statein November 2019.
17of 20Garson left life lessons for Nathen,like this onein 2020: “It’s a big country…..lot of chances to treat people equally, well, and kindly….”
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Garson left life lessons for Nathen,like this onein 2020: “It’s a big country…..lot of chances to treat people equally, well, and kindly….”
18of 20The proud pop’s birthday tributes were incredibly touching, like this oneon Nathen’s 19th.“Happy 19th Birthday to this kind, curious, empathetic, caring, smart, athlete, worker, and friend,” he wrote. “But what he’s best at is being a son. Happy Day, young man, Papa loves you more than anything.”
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The proud pop’s birthday tributes were incredibly touching, like this oneon Nathen’s 19th.
“Happy 19th Birthday to this kind, curious, empathetic, caring, smart, athlete, worker, and friend,” he wrote. “But what he’s best at is being a son. Happy Day, young man, Papa loves you more than anything.”
19of 20And this post, from the year prior.“Kindness, warmth, intelligence and drive. And 18 today. Endlessly striving for inclusion and acceptance. The best heart I’ve ever seen, a natural curiosity for justice, fairness, and doing the right thing—always. Inspiring to me every day, and to all lucky enough to know him. He’s never met a stranger. A keen judge of character, with caring and persistence.“Happiest of birthdays @nathen_garson, and bless all of your days. I love you beyond measure.”
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And this post, from the year prior.
“Kindness, warmth, intelligence and drive. And 18 today. Endlessly striving for inclusion and acceptance. The best heart I’ve ever seen, a natural curiosity for justice, fairness, and doing the right thing—always. Inspiring to me every day, and to all lucky enough to know him. He’s never met a stranger. A keen judge of character, with caring and persistence.
“Happiest of birthdays @nathen_garson, and bless all of your days. I love you beyond measure.”
20of 20And Nathen clearly loved him back. On the evening of his father’s passing, the 20-year-old wrote in his ownInstagram post, “I love you so much papa. Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were able to accomplish so much. I’m so proud of you. I will always love you, but I think it’s time for you to go on an adventure of your own. You’ll always be with me. Love you more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You always were the toughest and funniest and smartest person I’ve known. I’m glad you shared you’re love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it.”
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And Nathen clearly loved him back. On the evening of his father’s passing, the 20-year-old wrote in his ownInstagram post, “I love you so much papa. Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were able to accomplish so much. I’m so proud of you. I will always love you, but I think it’s time for you to go on an adventure of your own. You’ll always be with me. Love you more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You always were the toughest and funniest and smartest person I’ve known. I’m glad you shared you’re love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it.”
source: people.com
