Gavin Creel, Tony Award winner and musical Broadway veteran, dies at 48

NEW YORK (AP) — Gavin Creel, a seasoned Broadway performer known for his Tony Award-winning role in “Hello, Dolly!” as well as nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” passed away on Monday after battling a rare and aggressive type of cancer. He was 48 years old.

NEW YORK (AP) — Gavin Creel, an experienced Broadway star known for winning a Tony Award for his role in “Hello, Dolly!” and receiving nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” passed away on Monday from a rare and fast-moving type of cancer. He was 48 years old.

Publicist Matt Polk announced that Creel passed away at his residence in Manhattan due to metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma.

In 2019, Creel took on the character of Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles' musical "Waitress" on Broadway, and he reprised the role in the West End in 2020. He also received an Olivier Award for his work in "The Book of Mormon."

In the 2016 production of "She Loves Me" at Studio 54, he took on the role of Steven Kodaly. The next season, Creel was chosen to portray Cornelius Hackl in the highly successful 2017 revival of “Hello, Dolly!”, alongside iconic performers Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce, under the direction of Jerry Zaks.

He portrayed the character of the singing waiter Bill in the movies "Eloise at the Plaza" and "Eloise at Christmastime," sharing the screen with Julie Andrews. In 2021, he took on a role in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries "American Horror Stories" alongside Matt Bomer. His solo concert in 2022 was recorded for the debut episode of PBS's series "Stars Onstage at Westport Country Playhouse."

He leaves behind his mother, Nancy Clemens Creel, and father, James William Creel; his sisters, Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel; as well as his partner, Alex Temple Ward.

Mark Kennedy, a reporter from The Associated Press