Gavin Creel, the US stage musical and TV actor known for roles in Hair, Hello, Dolly! and American Horror Stories, has died at the age of 48 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Creel, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in July, died at his home in Manhattan, New York, his publicist Matt Polk said.
Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissue, such as muscle and fat, according to the NHS website.
Creel won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler’s Dolly Levi in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!
On Instagram, Midler said she “looked forward to working with him every single night”.
His career took off after he starred as Jimmy Smith, opposite fellow newcomer Sutton Foster, in another revival – on Broadway – of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, which won him his first Tony nomination for best leading actor in a musical.
Foster said in a post on Instagram: “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”
His second Tony nod came seven years later for best leading actor in a musical as Claude Hooper Bukowski in the revival of Hair.
He made his West End debut in 2006 as Bert in Disney and Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins and reprised his role in the West End transfer of Hair in 2010.
Creel went on to win the Olivier Award for best actor in a musical in 2014 for playing Elder Price in The Book Of Mormon, a role he proceeded to play on Broadway.
He also ventured into the world of TV and film, starring in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries American Horror Stories, opposite Matt Bomer in 2021; as well as opposite Dame Julie Andrews in Eloise At The Plaza and Eloise At Christmastime.
Other notable roles include Dr Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’s musical Waitress on Broadway in 2019 and on the West End a year later.
Among those paying tribute was Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt, who described Creel as his “first role model, idol, and hero”.
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British star Hannah Waddingham said on X she was “shaken to my core” following his death, writing “not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man”.
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Frozen stars Idina Menzel and Josh Gad also paid tribute on social media.
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There will be a small private gathering for the family and a celebration of his life will be held for the community at a date to be announced, Mr Polk said.
