The musical theater world was rocked on Monday (September 30) after it was revealed Tony-winning Broadway star Gavin Creel suddenly passed away.
Creel was 48 when he died. The singer-songwriter had been recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma – which he had learned of in July. He passed away in his Manhattan home on Monday, and his death was confirmed by his partner (Alex Temple Ward) via a publicist, Matt Polk.
Creel had been performing on Broadway for two decades, mostly in starring roles. Just last winter, he produced a memoiristic show he wrote and performed Off Broadway called Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, about learning to love the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gavin James Creel was born on April 18, 1976, in Findlay, Ohio. His grandmother was a music teacher, and from an early age Gavin enjoyed performing – putting on shows in the family living room with his two older sisters. While he also participated in swimming, he found greater meaning as a performer, singing in show choir, and acting in musicals.
Creel went on to attend the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater & Dance, and credited his education for helping him find his way. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater there in 1998.
He started working professionally almost immediately after graduating from college, playing an acting student named Nick Piazza in a touring production of Fame. He made his Broadway debut and received his first Tony nomination in 2002 as the suave salesman Jimmy Smith in the original production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
He went on to find success in a string of Broadway revivals: La Cage aux Folles (2004), Hair (2009), She Loves Me (2016), Hello, Dolly! (2017), and Into the Woods (2022).
That's not to say Creel didn't find success singing in modern shows. He spent several years in The Book of Mormon, playing Elder Price in that show’s first national tour in 2012. He then played the role in the West End production, and again as a replacement performer on Broadway in 2015. He also starred in the West End productions of Mary Poppins (2006) and Waitress (2020).
Creel was nominated for a Tony a second time when he played Claude in Hair. In 2017, he finally won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical by playing Cornelius Hackl in the Hello, Dolly! revival that starred Bette Midler.
Throughout his career, Creel was a champion of gay rights, helping to found Broadway Impact – an organization that supported same-sex marriage when it was still prohibited in much of the United States. In 2009, he persuaded the producers of Hair to cancel a performance so that the show’s cast and crew could participate in a gay rights march in Washington.
From Lin-Manuel Miranda to Bette Midler, Sutton Foster, Kristen Chenoweth, and more, there's been an immense outpouring of tributes to Creel from the Broadway community. Rob Colletti said, "Gavin Creel was not only one of the greatest performers in Broadway history, he was an even better human. There’s not a person who crossed his path who won’t beam with joy just talking about him," while Ben Platt revealed on his Instagram Story: "There are no words to describe this loss. Gavin was my first role model, idol and hero. He showed me around backstage after I saw my first Broadway show. I couldn’t believe someone that supernaturally talented could also be every single person in the building’s favorite human being. I wanted to sing just like him and be just like him.”
In addition to his partner, Gavin Creel is survived by his parents, Nancy Clemens Creel and James William Creel; and his sisters, Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel.
Read more tributes to Gavin Creel below.
I’ve just had to sit down. I keep rereading his name thinking everyone’s got it wrong.Not this man,not this beautiful, smiley,talented man.The absolute real deal, talent pouring out of every pore.I’m heartbroken you’ve gone Gavin. I hope to see you again my friend. God I’m shaken… pic.twitter.com/bYYupT4dNr
— Hannah Waddingham. (@hanwaddingham) September 30, 2024
Gavin was a friend and always an encouragement. We spent many moments backstage catching up, throughout my life, him always with a smile and a warmth, authenticity, and true, genuine interest. He was always so kind to me. I’m devastated, as I know many in the theater community… pic.twitter.com/GMYcQ18uX3
— Jinkx Monsoon (@JinkxMonsoon) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel. What a beautiful soul what a fine person ,, a great performer and voice
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) September 30, 2024
RIP. We are all so sad 💔 pic.twitter.com/C8ESxUrrDx
Gavin Creel was not only one of the greatest performers in Broadway history, he was an even better human. There’s not a person who crossed his path who won’t beam with joy just talking about him. The world is a much darker place without him. I am gutted and I’ll miss him forever.
— Rob Colletti (@robcolletti) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel was perfect friend, peer, role model, advice giver, confidant, cheerleader and a transcendent talent and nothing anyone says can do justice to how brilliant he was.
— Alex Edelman (@AlexEdelman) September 30, 2024
Devastated. pic.twitter.com/LDKocswxcC
All of us at Roundabout share our love, dismay, and sadness at Gavin Creel's untimely passing. Cancer is an unspeakable villain, but Gavin’s brief, brave struggle and his luminescent talent and kindness will inspire us always. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ehw3FmF2qP
— Roundabout (@roundaboutnyc) September 30, 2024
#gavincreel 💔 a colossal loss pic.twitter.com/n8bwAVnYqA
— Michael Urie (@michaelurie) September 30, 2024
Today, we mourn the devastating loss of Tony Award winner Gavin Creel, whose extraordinary talent, kindness, and passion lit up the stage and our hearts. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/s3YjJkglN0
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) September 30, 2024
Beloved by the #Broadway community, the radiant actor #GavinCreel has died from a rare form of cancer. He played Cornelius Hackl to my Dolly in “Hello Dolly” and I looked forward to working with him every single night. He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel pic.twitter.com/76u45IFn3I
— Casey Likes (@justcaseylikes) September 30, 2024
I thanked gavin creel for basically saving my life and inspiring me to continue performing and this was his response pic.twitter.com/mS8IbqOw5g
— Casey Likes (@justcaseylikes) September 30, 2024
We’re incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Gavin Creel who won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in A Musical for The Book Of Mormon. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/icGOYG404a
— Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) September 30, 2024
We lost our prince.
— NEW YORK CITY CENTER (@NYCityCenter) September 30, 2024
The New York City Center and Encores! family is devastated by the death of Gavin Creel today. The world has less light. pic.twitter.com/ECzs2kpzfg
Gavin Creel was one of the greatest actors and musicians I have ever worked with. I admired and revered him not only as an artiste but also as a deeply beautiful person. My time working with him on The Book of Mormon in London remains one of the joys of my producing career. pic.twitter.com/Dha4Knik0f
— Sonia Friedman Productions (@SFP_London) September 30, 2024
We're devastated to hear about the passing of Gavin Creel, the out actor and Broadway star who delighted audiences throughout the years. He was a co-founder of Broadway Impact, an advocacy group that mobilized the New York theatre community in the pursuit of marriage equality. In… pic.twitter.com/JoQX8hXPm2
— GLAAD (@glaad) September 30, 2024
I am so heartbroken to hear the news about Gavin Creel. He was wonderfully warm, kind and immensely talented - he was my Bert in Mary Poppins and took this theatre loving kid under his wing. Will never forget him buying Krispy Kreme’s for all the kids every single Saturday.💔 pic.twitter.com/9uL88TZtaJ
— Rob Madge (@Rob_Madge_02) September 30, 2024
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Article Image: Still of Gavin Creel performing as Elder Price in "The Book of Mormon." (Joan Marcus via gavincreel.com.)
