Tony Award-winning actor Gavin Creel has died at the age of 48.
Creel passed away at his home in New York on Monday. His death was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward.
The cause of death was a rare and aggressive form of cancer – metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma – which Creel was diagnosed with in July.
Creel was a Broadway musical theatre veteran who won a Tony Award for Hello, Dolly! and nominations for Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie – his Broadway debut in 2002.
Creel’s Hello, Dolly! co-star Bette Midler paid tribute to the late actor.
“Beloved by the #Broadway community, the radiant actor #GavinCreel has died from a rare form of cancer,” Midler posted on X. “He played Cornelius Hackl to my Dolly in Hello Dolly and I looked forward to working with him every single night. He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.”
Adam Lambert posted a simple message: “Rest in peace Gavin Creel.”
During a glittering stage career, Creel also starred in productions of La Cage Aux Folles, She Loves Me, and Waitress. He won an Olivier Award for his role as Elder Price in the London West End production of The Book of Mormon in 2014.
