Remembering Broadway and West End star GAVIN CREEL

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy

It has been announced today that Tony Award-winning actor Gavin Creel has sadly passed away after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma, following a diagnosis in July 2024, aged only 48 years old.

Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002 as Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for, before performing in the Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles in 2004 as Jean-Michel.

In 2006, Creel made his West End debut in Disney’s Mary Poppins, replacing original Bert, Gavin Lee.

He returned to Broadway in 2009 for the revival of Hair, in which he played Claude, earning himself another Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. He, along with the rest of the Broadway cast, then transferred with the production to the West End where it ran until 2010.

Creel originated the role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon in the West End, a role he played from 2012-15 and which he won an Olivier Award for. He also played the role in the US National Tour and on Broadway.

In 2016, he played Steven Kodaly in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me, before moving onto Hello Dolly! starring Bette Midler. He played Cornelius Hackl in the production; a role that won him the 2017 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. He went on to play Dr Pomatter in the Broadway production of Waitress before moving to the West End production, performing alongside Sara Bareilles.

In 2022, Creel appeared as The Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods at New York City Center Encores! before reprising his role in the Broadway transfer.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Gavin’s family and friends at this difficult time.