Stage star Gavin Creel has died aged 48
Gavin Creel, photo by Dan Wooller.
Gavin Creel, renowned for his performances in shows like Waitress and The Book of Mormon, has passed away at the age of 48.
Creel is reported to have been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of sarcoma, which was first detected in July.
He first appeared on Broadway in 2002 in Thoroughly Modern Millie, taking on the role of Jimmy Smith, which earned him his initial Tony nomination. He then portrayed Jean-Michel in the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles. In 2009, he received his second Tony nomination for his performance as Claude in Diane Paulus’s revival of Hair. He ultimately won the Tony for his role as Cornelius Hackl, where he starred alongside Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce in Hello, Dolly!.
In the UK, he received both a WhatsOnStage Award and an Olivier Award for his groundbreaking performance as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. In 2020, he starred in Waitress just before the Covid lockdowns began. He first stepped onto the West End stage in 2006, playing Bert in Mary Poppins and also took part in the production of Hair at the Gielgud Theatre.
He found most of his success on Broadway through revivals, particularly as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince in the 2022 revival of Into the Woods, as well as the charming Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me.
Sonia Friedman, the producer of The Book of Mormon, stated today: "Gavin Creel is among the finest actors and musicians I've had the pleasure of collaborating with. I not only respected him for his artistic talents but also cherished him as an incredibly kind individual. My experience working alongside him on The Book of Mormon in London stands out as one of the highlights of my career in production."
Rob Madge, who starred alongside Mary Poppins, expressed his sadness upon hearing about Gavin Creel. He described Gavin as incredibly warm, kind, and extraordinarily talented. As Rob's Bert in Mary Poppins, he provided guidance and support to the young theater enthusiast. Rob fondly remembers how Gavin would treat all the kids to Krispy Kreme donuts every Saturday.
Together with Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos, Creel started the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact, which aims to support the movement for the Marriage Equality Act in the theater community. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Creel and his friend Celia Keenan-Bolger established the Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund to motivate students to get involved in social justice initiatives during their time at the university.
Creel's latest theatrical work is a unique musical he created called **Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice**. It debuted off-Broadway in 2023 and continued its run until early 2024.
He is remembered by his mother, Nancy Clemens Creel, and father, James William Creel, as well as his sisters, Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel, who is married to Jen Kolb. He is also survived by his partner, Alex Temple Ward, and his beloved dog, Nina.
This is an urgent news update.
