Remembering Broadway and West End star GAVIN CREEL | West End Best Friend
Today, it has been reported that acclaimed Tony Award-winning actor Gavin Creel has tragically died at the age of 48 after fighting a rare and aggressive type of sarcoma. He was diagnosed with the illness in July 2024.
Creel first appeared on Broadway in 2002, playing the role of Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie. His impressive performance earned him a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. In 2004, he took on the role of Jean-Michel in the Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles.
In 2006, Creel made his debut in the West End with Disney's Mary Poppins, taking over the role of Bert from the original actor, Gavin Lee.
In 2009, he made his way back to Broadway for the revival of Hair, taking on the role of Claude. This performance earned him yet another Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Afterward, he and the rest of the cast moved the production to the West End, where it continued to run until 2010.
Creel was the original Elder Price in The Book of Mormon in London's West End, performing the role from 2012 to 2015, for which he received an Olivier Award. He also took on this character during the U.S. National Tour and on Broadway.
In 2016, he took on the character of Steven Kodaly in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me, and then transitioned to Hello Dolly!, where he starred alongside Bette Midler. In this show, he portrayed Cornelius Hackl, a role that earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical in 2017. Following that, he played Dr. Pomatter in the Broadway version of Waitress and later joined the West End production, performing with Sara Bareilles.
In 2022, Creel took on the roles of The Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods at the New York City Center Encores! He later repeated his performance when the show transferred to Broadway.
We are thinking of Gavin’s family and friends and sending them our heartfelt wishes during this challenging time.
