Broadway star Gavin Creel has died aged 48, two months after being diagnosed with cancer

Gavin Creel, a Tony Award-winning Broadway star best known for his roles in “Hello, Dolly!”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “The Book of Mormon.”

Creel died on September 30 at his home in New York City at the age of 48. In July he was diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, his partner told The New York Times.

A representative for Creel confirmed the news to TODAY.com. Creel, known for his high-energy physical performances and his strength as a singer, made his Broadway debut in 2002 as smooth-talking salesman Jimmy Smith opposite Sutton Foster. production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” receiving a Tony nomination for the role.

He is a near regular on the Broadway stage, receiving a second Tony nomination for playing the hippie leader Claude in the 2009 revival of “Hair,” winning the 2017 Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackle. “Hello, Dolly!” Its revival starred Bette Midler.

“Tony really felt like a hug from the community I've been in for 20 years,” she told The San Francisco Chronicle. “It feels good. I literally can't do anything else in my life and I'm still a Tony winner. I would never do that.”

For several years, Creel, who was born in Findlay, Ohio, played the dashing missionary Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon,” beginning the show's first national tour in 2012, before landing the role in London's West End, where he landed an Olivier in 2014. won the award.

Creel also starred in “La Cage aux Folles” (2004), “She Loves Me” (2016) and the Broadway productions of “Waitress” (2019) and “Into the Woods” (2022).

In recent years, he appeared on stage in his own Off-Broadway show, “Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice,” chronicling his love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Creel has brought her talents to television a handful of times, appearing on “Eloise at the Plaza” and “Eloise at Christmastime” in 2003 and on Ryan Murphy's “American Horror Stories” in 2021.

Many of Creel's fellow Broadway stars paid tribute to him on social media.

Sutton Foster shared a photo of her and Creel cuddling on Instagram, writing, “My dearest friend. I will love you forever.”

Josh Gad, who originated the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in “The Book of Mormon,” shared a different photo of Creel on Instagram. “We lost someone so young, so early in his journey and so influential to our creative community. It's not fair to his family and his closest friends. We miss you @realgavincreel.

Idina Menzel also shared a photo of Creel, writing, “Sweet sweet Gavin Creel. An angel among angels. I love you so much.”

How did Gavin Creel die?

Krill died of a rare and aggressive type of cancer known as metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma. He was diagnosed with the disease just two months before his death.

What is metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma?

Melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma is a type of cancerous tumor that starts in the lining of the nerves that connect the spinal cord to the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Metastatic means the cancer has spread or metastasized beyond its place of origin in the body.

These tumors are rare and can be highly aggressive, according to the American Journal of Neurology.

Symptoms of this type of cancer can get worse quickly and include: pain and weakness in the tumor area and growing lumps under the skin.