Broadway actor Gavin Creel passed away on Monday at the age of 48.
The Tony Award-winning star is known for her lead roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie Hare and the recent revival of Into the Woods, as well as her activism and positivity in the Broadway community, and her transference. He was diagnosed with melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma and passed away. A rare and aggressive form of cancer that occurred in July. He received treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering and then transitioned to hospice care at home.
His death was confirmed by his partner Alex Temple Ward.
Known for her energetic, peppy acting and sonorous voice, Creel starred opposite Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce as Cornelius in Jerry Zacks’ 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! He won a Tony Award for his role as Huckle. Critics praised his portrayal of the enthusiastic store clerk, with THR critic David Rooney noting that Creel’s voice had “never sounded sweeter” and adding, “Criel and (Taylor) Trench have a good relationship with “ He sang “Put On Your Sunday Closing” with great vigor.” We’re all up in the air when peaceful people start walking in their best clothes, filling the stage with an explosion of Easter egg colors. ”
He recently appeared on Broadway in the 2022 revival of “Into the Woods,” playing the “splendidly hammy” Prince and Wolf in Cinderella in a production starring his friend Sara Bareilles, who also co-starred in “Waitress.”
Just last winter, Creel appeared Off-Broadway in “Walk on Through: Confessions of an Art Museum Beginner.” This musical is based on Creel’s own experience of falling in love with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with 17 songs written and composed. museum.
His big break came in 2002 when he played Jimmy Smith opposite rising star Sutton Foster in the Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. He was nominated for a Tony Award for this role, and later carried his momentum into other roles, playing Jean-Michel in the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles.
He returned to Broadway in 2009 in the Public Theater revival of Hair, opposite Will Swenson, as Claude Hooper Bukowski, a Midwesterner who encounters a tribe of hippies. During its production, Creel became an outspoken advocate in the theater world for the passage of the federal Marriage Equality Act, and co-founded the nonprofit Broadway Impact with Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos. The group raises money for LGBTQ+ awareness, and in 2009 Creel convinced Hairs’ producers to cancel a show so the company could participate in the Equality March on Washington.
Creel also appeared in the West End as Bart in Mary Poppins in 2006, and reprized the role in the West End transfer of Hare in 2010. Creel went on to win the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Elder Price. “The Book of Mormon” will also be performed on a U.S. tour and will be performed on Broadway.
In addition to her performance in Hello, Dolly!, Creel appeared in the 2016 revival of She Loves Me opposite Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski.
Born April 18, 1976 to James and Nancy Creel, Gavin grew up in Findlay, Ohio, where he developed his singing, performing, and directing talents. He was introduced to musical theater by his elementary school teacher, Nancy Glick, and after singing “Gary, Indiana” from Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, he sold in the medium for the rest of his life.
After graduating from Findlay High School in 1994, Gavin attended the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance, Department of Musical Theater, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1998. My friend Melody Racine studied with me in college and for several years afterwards.
After graduation, Gavin returned to Michigan regularly to teach master classes, give voice lessons, and work with students while workshopping his own materials. Along with his close friend and University of Michigan alumnus Celia Keenan-Bolger, he created the Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship to encourage students to get involved in social justice work while in school. A gold fund was established. He also organized Department Chair Brent Wagner’s retirement celebration, “Maze & Blue on Broadway,” at the August Wilson Theater in New York City in 2016.
In addition to his stage work, Creel played the singing waiter Bill in the films Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime, co-starring Dame Julie Andrews. In 2021, he appeared opposite Matt Bomer in the miniseries American Horror Stories directed by Ryan Murphy, and in 2022 he appeared on PBS’s Stars On Stage at Westport Country Playhouse. Gavin’s solo concert was filmed in the premiere episode of .
Creel also writes his own music, including pop songs inspired by artists such as Whitney Houston, and has collaborated with Robbie Ross on “GOODTIMENATION” (2006), “Quiet” (2010), and “Get Out.” (2012) and the single “Noise” (2011). , raised funds and awareness for marriage equality.
In 2019, Creel was commissioned by the MetLiveArts department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which led to the production of Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Beginner.
In addition to his partner, he is survived by his parents, Nancy Clemens Creel and James William Creel; his sisters Heather Elise Creel and Alison Jo Creel and her wife Jen Kolb; and his dog Nina.
The funeral will be held privately. A commemorative event is also planned at a later date. The family requests that gifts in his memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
