Broadway lost Tony Award-winning veteran actor Gavin Creel at the age of 48 on Monday.
Creel appeared in “Hello, Dolly” with Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce, Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress” in 2019 and in “The Book of Mormon.”
Creel’s representative Matt Polk told CNN that his death was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward, and that he died at his Manhattan home.
“As an award-winning Broadway star, he brought irrepressible verve, passion and boundless energy to his onstage roles while devoting his offstage time to advocacy and community-building,” a Creel obituary states.
According to the obituary, in July 2024, Creel underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering after diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma.
From Findlay, Ohio and a graduate of University of Michigan school of Music, Theater and Dance, Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002 in a stage production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” for which he originated the role of Jimmy Smith. He earned his first Tony Award nomination and soon became a celebrated stage star for comedic and dramatic work on Broadway and in West End productions.
His second Tony nomination came in 2009 for starting in the Broadway revival of “Hair” as “Claude Hooper Bukowski.” In 2014, he won an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical for his role as “Elder Price” in “The Book of Mormon.”
Creel’s first Tony Award win came in 2017 for portraying “Cornelius Hackl” in a revival of “Hello, Dolly” alongside Midler and Pierce.
“My heart is achingly heavy for you tonight my friend. I’m so sad that you were taken so soon. I will never forget you as long as I breathe,” “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham wrote on Instagram Monday after hearing the news of Creel’s death.
In 2019, Creel portrayed “Dr. Pomatter” in “Waitress” and reprised the role in 2020 in London’s West End. His obituary states that Bareilles was his “friend and kindred artistic spirit.”
They teamed up again in 2022 for a Broadway production of Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods.”
“Gavin lived his life with joy, integrity, humor, wit and grace. His sparkling presence and generous nature will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him,” the obituary stated.
Actor Josh Gad shared on social media that he did not have the words to express his grief.
“We have lost someone far too young, far too early still in his journey and far too impactful to our creative community. My heart breaks for his family and his closest friends. This is just not fair. We will never forget you,” Gad, 43, said.
“Hamilton” playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda posted on Instagram that he was “shattered” by Creel’s death.
“Gavin Creel was our first King when all we had was 11 songs and he wrapped the audience around his finger with nothing but a Burger King crown and his 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,” Miranda, 44, wrote.
Midler shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Creel was “beloved” in the Broadway community.
“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,” she wrote.
Creel is survived by his mother, Nancy Clemens Creel, his father, James William Creel, his sisters, Ward and his dog, Nina.
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Rebecca Barnabi
