Gavin Creel dies: 'Waitress', Tony-winning Broadway star of 'Into the Woods' was 48

In stunning and tragic news, Gavin Creel, one of Broadway's most popular and acclaimed leading men, died today in Manhattan just two months after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma. He was 48.

His death was confirmed by his colleague Alex Temple Ward. Creel was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York for metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma after being diagnosed in July. After her treatment at the hospital, she was transferred to hospice care at her home.

One of Broadway's top musical theater artists, Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002 in a lead role. A thoroughly modern Milliearning a Tony Award nomination, a feat he would repeat seven years later in what would become a signature performance as Claude in the 2009 Broadway revival the hair.

From 2012 to 2015, he played Elder Price The Book of MormonHe will play a role in an Olivier-winning performance for the West End production of the musical.

In 2017, he received a Tony Award for his portrayal of Cornelius on Broadway Hello, Dolly! Opposite Bette Midler.

Her other stage credits include La Cage aux Folles (2004), he loves me (2016), the hostess (2019), and in the wood (2022), among many others. TV credits included American Horror Story And Central ParkBoth in 2021.

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Gavin James Creel, born April 18, 1976 in Findlay, Ohio, showed musical talent from an early age, often playing the piano with his grandmother, a music teacher. He sang his first single – from “Gary, Indiana”. music man – In a primary school production.

After high school graduation, Creel attended the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance in the Musical Theater Department, where he eventually received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1998. There he met his voice teacher and lifelong friend, Melody. Racine, with whom he studied during his education and long after.

In 2002, after performing regionally and touring the country, Creel landed the breakout role of Jimmy Smith opposite fellow newcomer Sutton Foster in the Broadway production. A thoroughly modern Milli. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

after MilliCreel originated as out-of-towner Hollis Bessemer in Stephen Sondheim's final musical. BounceDirected by Hal Prince. From there, Creel played Jean-Michel in a revival of her Broadway career The Cage aux Folles.

Creel returned to Broadway as Claude Hooper Bukowski in a 2009 revival at the Public Theater. the hairEarned second Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

During this time, Creel became a leading activist and organizer in the Broadway community, lobbying for the federal Marriage Equality Act, co-founding the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact, and with cast mates the hairRaising money and awareness for LGBTQ+ issues. He convinced the revival's producers to cancel a performance so the company could participate in the 2009 Historic Equality March in Washington, DC.

Creel made his West End debut in 2006 as Bart in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh. Mary Poppins and his revenge the hair Role in West End Transfer in 2010. Creel then won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Elder Price. The Book of MormonA role she has already toured in the US and will then perform on Broadway.

In 2016, Creel played Steven Kodali in the 2016 production of he loves me at Studio 54, and played Cornelius Hackle opposite Midler and David Hyde Pierce the following season, in the 2017 revival. Hello, Dolly!Directed by Jerry Zacks. That year, he traversed the awards circuit, winning Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Creel appeared opposite her friend Sara Bareilles in two productions: she played Beryles' musical Dr. Played the role of Pomater the hostess On Broadway in 2019 and in the West End in 2020, and then in 2022, he and Bareilles were cast in the hugely popular Encore! Sondheim and James Lapine's production in the wood. The sold-out run soon moved to a limited Broadway engagement and was extended multiple times by popular demand before going on a national tour in 2023.

Although initially a stage star, Creel also ventured into television and film, playing the role of singer waiter Bill in the film. Eloise at the Plaza And Eloise at Christmastime Alongside Dame Julie Andrews. In 2021, she starred in Ryan Murphy's film American Horror Story opposite Matt Bomer, and in 2022, her solo concert was filmed for the premiere episode of PBS' Stars at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Creel also wrote music and began producing albums with his friend and collaborator Robbie Roth, the first of which was titled good time (2006). Creel's other musical releases include calm down (2010), get out (2012), and his mono the noise (2011), which raises funds and awareness for marriage equality.

In 2019, Creel received a commission from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's MetLiveArts department and began work on what would become an ambitious song cycle based on pieces from the Met's collection and the impression they had on her. After debuting at the Met in 2021, he received a residency and developmental workshop at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in 2022 and an art presentation at the Signature Center Theater in New York City later that year. In November 2023, Creel's first musical, Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum NoviceThe Off-Broadway premiere at the MCC Theater features 17 original songs written, played and performed by Creel, directed by Linda Goodrich and in musical collaboration with dear friends Madeleine Benson and Chris Peters.

Creel was preceded in death by his grandparents Homer and Mildred Clemens, his grandparents James and Elizabeth Creel; and by her cousin Amy P. Walker.

In addition to his partner Alex Temple Ward, he is survived by his mother Nancy Clemens Creel and father James William Creel and sisters Heather Alice Creel and Alison Jo Creel and his wife Jane Kolb.

A funeral service will be private, but a memorial service is planned for a future date The family requests that gifts in Creel's memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.