World of theatre mourns ‘talented’ Gavin Creel after death from cancer aged 48

Musical theatre veteran Gavin Creel, who won a Tony Award for Hello, Dolly! and an Olivier Award for The Book Of Mormon, has been remembered by stars of the stage following his death from cancer aged 48.

Creel died at his home in Manhattan after he was diagnosed with a “rare and aggressive” form of cancer in July 2024, his publicist Matt Polk confirmed to the PA news agency.

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 added.

Creel had a flair for theatre revivals during his career, winning a Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical following his role as Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler’s Dolly Levi in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!

On Instagram, Midler said “radiant actor” Creel was “beloved by the Broadway community”.

“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,” she wrote.

Creel landed his breakout role of Jimmy Smith, opposite fellow newcomer Sutton Foster, in the Broadway revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, which won him his first Tony nomination for best leading actor in a musical.

“My sweet friend. I will love you forever,” Foster said in a post on Instagram.

Meanwhile composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda paid tribute to Creel who was his first King George III while hit musical Hamilton was being workshopped.

“Gavin Creel was our first King when all we had was 11 songs and he wrapped the audience around his finger with nothing but a Burger King crown and his mind-blowing charisma and talent,” he wrote on Instagram.

“He is so loved and it is unimaginable that he’s no longer with us.

“My heart goes out to all the friends and family and collaborators lucky enough to be in his orbit.”

Creel won his second Tony nod for best leading actor in a musical, after starring as Claude Hooper Bukowski in the 2009 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’ 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”.

“He showed me around backstage after I saw my first Broadway show.

“I couldn’t believe someone that supernaturally talented could also be every single person in the building’s favourite human being,” Platt said on Instagram.

“It’s impossible to articulate what he has meant to the theatre and even harder to understand that he’s gone.”

Meanwhile British star Hannah Waddingham said she was “shaken to my core” following his death.

“I’ve just had to sit down. I keep rereading his name thinking everyone’s got it wrong. Not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man,” she said on X.

“The absolute real deal, talent pouring out of every pore. I’m heartbroken you’ve gone Gavin. I hope to see you again my friend.”

Frozen star’s Idina Menzel and Josh Gad also paid tribute on social media.