Broadway musical theater veteran Gavin Creel, who won a Tony Award for “Hello, Dolly!” opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” passed away Monday at the age of 48 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He succumbed to metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma at his home in Manhattan after being diagnosed in July 2024, according to his publicist, Matt Polk.
His passing elicited heartfelt tributes from colleagues and fans alike. “I looked forward to working with him every single night. He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss,” Midler wrote on X. Idina Menzel shared a photo of Creel on Instagram, captioning it, “Sweet sweet Gavin Creel. An angel among the angels.”
Creel was known for his versatility, spanning Golden Age Broadway revivals and modern hits. He took on the role of Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’ musical “Waitress” on Broadway in 2019 and reprised it on the West End in 2020. His performance in “The Book of Mormon” earned him an Olivier Award.
Lin-Manuel Miranda fondly remembered Creel as his first King George III during the workshopping phase of “Hamilton”: “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,” Miranda wrote.
Raised in Findlay, Ohio, Creel graduated in 1998 from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He made his breakthrough as Jimmy Smith in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on Broadway, acting alongside then-newcomer Sutton Foster. He also contributed to Stephen Sondheim’s penultimate musical, “Bounce,” directed by Hal Prince.
His role as Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon” was a standout, leading to both national tour and West End performances, where he won an Olivier Award in 2014. Creel’s Broadway presence was consistent, featuring roles such as Jean-Michel in the revival of “La Cage Aux Folles” in 2004, and Claude Hooper Bukowski in the Public Theater’s 2009 revival of “Hair.” Associated Press critic Michael Kuchwara praised Creel’s performance in “Hair,” highlighting his powerhouse voice and poignant interpretation of the character Claude.
In 2016, Creel played Steven Kodaly in “She Loves Me” at Studio 54, and the following year, he starred as Cornelius Hackl in the critically acclaimed 2017 revival of “Hello, Dolly!” alongside Midler and David Hyde Pierce, winning the Tony for best featured actor in a musical. Accepting his award, Creel urged the audience to start scholarship funds, emphasizing the transformative power of such initiatives.
Beyond the stage, Creel was a prominent advocate for the federal Marriage Equality Act and co-founded the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact with friends Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos. His offstage endeavors included playing the singing waiter Bill in the films “Eloise at the Plaza” and “Eloise at Christmastime” with Julie Andrews, and starring in Ryan Murphy’s 2021 miniseries “American Horror Stories” alongside Matt Bomer. His 2022 solo concert was the premiere episode of PBS’s “Stars Onstage at Westport Country Playhouse.”
In 2022, he was cast in an off-Broadway concert production of Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods,” playing Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf. The production moved to Broadway and was extended multiple times, earning a Tony nomination for best revival of a musical.
Gavin Creel is survived by his mother, Nancy Clemens Creel, father, James William Creel, sisters Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel, and his partner, Alex Temple Ward.
