“A radiant actor”: Tributes pour in following tragic death of Broadway legend Gavin Creel
Gavin Creel, a legendary Broadway actor, has sadly passed away at the age of 48.
According to his publicist Mark Polk, Creel was diagnosed with sarcoma, a “rare and aggressive” cancer, in July. He died at his home in Manhattan, New York.
Creel was best known for his work on stage, earning Tony nominations for his Broadway performances in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Hair (2009). In 2017, he received a Tony Award for his work as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!
Additionally, Creel earned a Laurence Olivier Award for originating the role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon (2012-2015), and a Grammy Award for Into the Woods (2022).
Other notable Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles (2004), She Loves Me (2016) and Waitress (2019).
The actor also ventured into television as Bill in the television films Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime (both 2003) and as Troy in FX’s horror anthology series American Horror Stories (2021).
Following the tragic news of his death, various stars paid tribute to Creel – including his Hello, Dolly! co-star Bette Midler.
“Beloved by the #Broadway community, the radiant actor #GavinCreel has died from a rare form of cancer,” Midler wrote on Instagram.
“I looked forward to working with him every single night. He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.”
Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham tweeted that she was “shaken to my core”: “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.”
Broadway songwriter and filmmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda said he’s “shattered” by the news and praised Creel’s “mind-blowing charisma and talent”.
“He is so loved and it is unimaginable that he’s no longer with us. My heart goes out to all the friends and family and collaborators lucky enough to be in his orbit. We love you and we’ll always love you Gavin,” he wrote.
On his Instagram Story, Ben Platt mourned his “first role model, idol and hero”: “It’s impossible to articulate what he has meant to the theatre, and even harder to understand that he’s gone.”
See more tributes below.
Gavin Creel, goodness how lucky we were. pic.twitter.com/ACKgU5PXTK
— Frances Patano (@FrancesPatano) September 30, 2024
Thinking of Jonathan Groff’s story about how his relationship with Gavin Creel gave him the strength to come out publicly pic.twitter.com/3sSGJj9eaK
— Tyler Ruggeri (@t_ruggeri) September 30, 2024
Bow down to the first King George III. Years before the show was fully developed, Gavin Creel was the first to take the role for a spin. Here he is in 2012 performing “You’ll Be Back” with a Burger King crown on his head. pic.twitter.com/AnGDdkGesq
— Ana-Brit Asplen (@anabritelora) October 1, 2024
my tiny gavin creel story — when I was having a ROUGH time senior year of high school and getting a million rejections in the BFA audition process, my favorite teacher sent me an out of the blue email one day with this video attached: pic.twitter.com/bCVFD9n2Hr
— Paige 🥯 (@paigeelevy) September 30, 2024
I’ve been thinking all day about our beloved Gavin Creel. And although one prepares, one is never ready to lose someone like him. Weren’t we blessed to know him? His legacy and talent and VOICE lives on forever. Gavin, you are SO LOVED. See you in heaven. RIP sweet angel.
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) October 1, 2024
the greatest there ever was, the incomparable gavin creel, the singular most generous, beautiful, kind man i ever had the luck to meet. so stupendously talented, it took your breath away. pic.twitter.com/NT0YtRdwp5
— ☁️ (@suhosoda) September 30, 2024
yeah gavin creel was a singular talent but i love how everyone is emphasizing just how fucking kind he was, and THAT is a legacy
— laura j. brown (@laurjbrown) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel in She Loves Me was just classic Broadway charisma, skill, humor and vitality. A singular talent and voice. Taken far too soon. pic.twitter.com/1tiA7pRegY
— Briggon Snow (@BriggonSnow) 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
When I was in college my friend and I were on the East side and we had to walk past the Plaza to get home
It had started snowing and we decided to go run around in it like Gavin Creel in Eloise
I’ve seen him in many shows but that memory is something I hold most dear about him pic.twitter.com/83VKJl7fKt— Molly (@musicalmollay) September 30, 2024
people throw the word legend around a lot these days but he embodied legendary status like very few in the modern theatre community
i was lucky enough to see him twice in action, i absolutely idolised him – an immeasurable loss
rest in peace gavin creel 💫 https://t.co/IZcXyZR4o3
— Callum Scott Howells (@callumshowells) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel you were a talent, a light, a star, a mentor and a friend. And that voice I will never forget your voice. And how you encouraged me to stay in London and to keep going. From Book of Mormon to Waitress you were my friend. The world has lost a light today. pic.twitter.com/EDT1APaR83
— Marisha Wallace (@marishawallace) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel. What a beautiful soul what a fine person ,, a great performer and voice
RIP. We are all so sad 💔 pic.twitter.com/C8ESxUrrDx— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) 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
The Book of Mormon mourns the loss of Gavin Creel, who died on Monday from a rare form of cancer (metastatic melanotic nerve sheath sarcoma).
1/4 pic.twitter.com/1pQmfqLnze— THE BOOK OF MORMON (@BookofMormon) September 30, 2024
Gavin Creel was central to one of the most joyous moments of live theater I’ve ever seen.
It’s a crime that he won’t be able to give us any more.pic.twitter.com/ol6GVkSwEh
— Adam Tamburin (@tamburintweets) October 1, 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
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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
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Author: Sam Damshenas