Gavin Creel, Tony Winning Musical Theater Actor, Dies at 48 | Gavin Creel Dies at Age 48
Gavin Creel, Tony Winning Musical Theater Actor, Dies at 48 Gavin Creel Dies at Age 48
In heartbreaking news, Tony Award-winning Broadway star Gavin Creel has passed away at the age of 48, just two months after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma. Creel's death occurred today in Manhattan, and it was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward. He had been undergoing treatment at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, diagnosed in July. After treatment, he transitioned to hospice care at home.
Gavin Creel was one of Broadway’s most beloved and highly regarded musical theater actors. He made his Broadway debut in 2002 in Thoroughly Modern Millie, earning a Tony Award nomination. Seven years later, he earned another nomination for his acclaimed portrayal of Claude in the 2009 revival of Hair.
From 2012 to 2015, Creel starred as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, a role that earned him the Olivier Award when he reprised it in London’s West End. In 2017, Creel won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! alongside Bette Midler.
His other stage credits include La Cage aux Folles (2004), She Loves Me (2016), Waitress (2019), and Into the Woods (2022). On television, Creel appeared in American Horror Stories and Central Park, both in 2021.
Born Gavin James Creel on April 18, 1976, in Findlay, Ohio, Creel’s musical talents were evident from a young age. He began singing in school and pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Michigan. His big break came in 2002 with Thoroughly Modern Millie, which launched his successful Broadway career.
Throughout his life, Creel was also a dedicated activist. He co-founded Broadway Impact, a non-profit organization advocating for marriage equality. His activism included raising awareness and money for LGBTQ+ issues, and he played a role in the historic Equality March in Washington, DC, in 2009.
Creel’s career extended internationally, making his West End debut in Mary Poppins in 2006 and winning acclaim for his performance in The Book of Mormon in 2014. In addition to his stage career, Creel was also a talented musician, releasing albums such as Goodtimenation (2006), Quiet (2010), and Get Out (2012). His single Noise raised funds for marriage equality.
Recently, Creel had been working on an original song cycle inspired by pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which debuted in 2021. His debut musical, Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, premiered Off-Broadway in November 2023, featuring 17 original songs.
Gavin Creel is survived by his partner, Alex Temple Ward, his parents Nancy Clemens Creel and James William Creel, and his sisters Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel. A private funeral service will be held, with a public memorial planned at a later date. His family has asked for donations in his memory to be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.