Broadway Star Gavin Creel Dies At 48, Two Months After Cancer Diagnosis

Gavin Creel, a Tony Award-winning Broadway star best known for his performances in “Hello, Dolly!,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “The Book of Mormon,” has died.

Creel died Sept. 30 at his home in New York City at age 48. He had been diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer in July, his partner, told The New York Times.

A rep for Creel confirmed the news to TODAY.com.Creel, who was known for his high-energy physical performances and his strength as a singer, made his Broadway debut in 2002 playing smooth-talking salesman Jimmy Smith opposite Sutton Foster in the original production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” receiving a Tony nomination for the role.

He remained a near constant presence on the Broadway stage, receiving a second Tony nomination for playing the hippie leader Claude in the 2009 revival of “Hair,” before winning a Tony for best actor in a musical for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl in the 2017 revival of “Hello, Dolly!” starring Bette Midler.

“The Tony really felt like a hug from the community I’ve been in for 20 years,” he told The San Francisco Chronicle. “That feels good. I can literally do nothing else in my life and I’m still a Tony winner. I will never not have done that.”

For several years, Creel, who was born in Findlay, Ohio, played the role of fastidious missionary Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon,” embarking on the show’s first national tour in 2012, before taking the role to London’s West End, where he won a Olivier Award in 2014.

Creel also starred in the Broadway productions of “La Cage Aux Folles” (2004), “She Loves Me” (2016) and “Waitress” (2019) and “Into the Woods” (2022).

In recent years, he appeared onstage in his own Off-Broadway show, “Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice,” which chronicled his love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Creel also brought his talents to television a handful of times, appearing in “Eloise at the Plaza” and “Eloise at Christmastime” in 2003, and Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Stories” in 2021.

Many of Creel’s fellow Broadway stars paid tribute to him on social media.

Sutton Foster shared a photo of her and Creel being affectionate on Instagram, writing, “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”

Josh Gad, who originated the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in “The Book of Mormon,” shared a different photo of Creel on Instagram.”We have lost someone far too young, far too early still in his journey and far too impactful to our creative community. My heart breaks for his family and his closest friends. This is just not fair. We will never forget you @realgavincreel,” he wrote.

Idina Menzel also shared a pic of Creel, writing, “Sweet sweet Gavin Creel. An angel among the angels. I love you so much.”