Broadway actor Gavin Creel died Monday at the age of 48.
The Tony-nominated star, known for his starring roles in Millie completely modern, hair and the recent renaissance of In the woodsamong others and his activism and positivity in the Broadway community, died after being diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in July 2024. He underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, before moving into hospice care. at home.
His death was confirmed by his partner Alex Temple Ward.
Known for his energetic, exuberant Broadway performances and resonant voice, Creel won a Tony Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl, opposite legends Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce, in the 2017 revival of Hello Dolly!, directed by Jerry Zaks. Critics praised his portrayal of the enthusiastic store clerk, with THR Critic David Rooney noted that Creel’s voice had “never sounded sweeter”, adding that “Creel and [Taylor] Trensch gives “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” such a lift that by the time the gentlemen start strolling around in their finery, flooding the stage with an explosion of Easter egg color, we’re all up in the air .
He most recently appeared on Broadway in the 2022 revival of In the woodsplaying the Prince and the Wolf in Cinderella’s “gloriously hammered” production starring Sara Bareilles, a friend with whom he also starred in Waitress.
Last winter, Creel appeared Off-Broadway in Walk Through: Confessions of a Museum Novicea musical for which Creel wrote and composed 17 songs about his own experience falling in love with the Metropolitan Museum of Art after receiving a commission from the museum.
His breakout role came in 2022, when he played Jimmy Smith, alongside budding star Sutton Foster, in the Broadway production of Millie totally modern. He received a Tony Award nomination for this role, then continued his momentum with other roles, including that of Jean-Michel in the 2004 revival. The Cage Aux Folles.
He returned to Broadway as Claude Hooper Bukowski, where he soared through the audience as the long-haired leader of a hippie group protesting the Vietnam War, in the Public Theater’s 2009 revival. Hairopposite Will Swenson. During this production, Creel became an outspoken voice in the theater community for the passage of the federal Marriage Equality Act and founded the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact with Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos . The group raised money to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ issues and Creel convinced HairThe producers canceled a performance so the company could attend the Equality March in Washington, DC in 2009.
Creel also appeared in the West End in 2006 as Bert in Marie Poppins and reprized his role in the West End transfer of Hair in 2010. Creel went on to win the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Elder Price, the The Book of Mormon, that he also toured the United States and would perform on Broadway.
In addition to his performance in Hello Dolly!, Creel appeared in the 2016 revival of She Loves Me, alongside Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski.
Born April 18, 1976 to James and Nancy Creel, Gavin grew up in Findlay, Ohio, where he showed a gift for singing, performing and directing. He was introduced to musicals by an elementary school teacher, Nancy Glick, and after singing Meredith Wilson’s “Gary, Indiana.” The music manwas sold on lifetime support.
After graduating from Findlay High School in 1994, Gavin attended the musical theater department at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1998. There he met his lifelong singing teacher and singing teacher. friend, Melody Racine, with whom he studied at university and in the years that followed.
Even after graduating, Gavin regularly returned to Michigan to give masterclasses, teach voice lessons, and work with students while working on his own material. He and his best friend and Michigan alumna, Celia Keenan-Bolger, founded the Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund. encourage students to engage in social justice causes while in school. He also hosted a retirement celebration at New York’s August Wilson Theater for department chair Brent Wagner in 2016, titled Corn and Blue on Broadway.
In addition to his stage work, Creel played the singing waiter Bill in the films Eloise at the Plaza et Eloise at Christmas alongside Dame Julie Andrews. In 2021, he participated in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries, American Horror Storiesopposite Matt Bomer, and in 2022, Gavin’s solo concert was filmed for the first episode of PBS. Stars on stage at Westport Country Playhouse.
Creel also wrote his own music, including pop songs inspired by artists such as Whitney Houston, and produced several albums with Robbie Roth, including GOOD TIME (2006), Calm (2010), To go out (2012), and its single Noise (2011), which raised funds and awareness for marriage equality.
In 2019, Creel received a commission from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetLiveArts department which led to the production of Carry On: Confessions of a Museum Novice.
He is survived by his mother Nancy Clemens Creel and father James Wiliiam Creel, his sisters Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel and his wife Jen Kolb, his partner Alex Temple Ward and his dog Nina.
The funeral service is private. A memorial will be planned at a later date. The family requests that donations in Gavin’s memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.
Related News :