Tony and Olivier Award Winner Gavin Creel Passes Away at 48

BroadwayWorld is very saddened to report the passing of Broadway and West End performer and writer Gavin Creel, who died today, September 30. He was 48 years old. Gavin was diagnosed with cancer in July 2024 and underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering for a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma. His passing was confirmed by his partner Alex Temple Ward.

"The thing about theatre is that it never goes away. How cool is that?" Creel said in a 2019 interview when he joined the cast of Waitress. "[Shows] will close and new shows will come in and tell new stories, but they will never be gone." As the community mourns his loss, we also celebrate his incredible impact and echo his sentiments. 

Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002, originating the role of Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination, Creel went on to star in the Broadway productions of Hair (Tony Award nomination), La Cage Aux Folles, She Loves Me, The Book of Mormon, and Waitress.

He received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler.

Creel was among the star-studded cast of New York City Center Encores! critically acclaimed production of Into the Woods starring as Wolf/Cinderella's Prince. The celebrated production transferred to Broadway where Creel reprised his role as Wolf/Cinderella's Prince opposite Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Joshua Henry, Julia Lester and Patina Miller.

Gavin received an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Elder Price in the London production of The Book of Mormon and also appeared on the West End in Mary Poppins, Hair, and Waitress.

Most recently, his musical Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice played off-Broadway at MCC Theater. 

On television, Creel recently performed a solo PBS concert special with Stars on Stage, starred as Troy in Ryan Murphy's anthology series American Horror Stories and played Bill alongside Julie Andrews in Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmasttime.

Creel released three original albums: GoodTimeNation, Quiet and, Get Out. Creel was a co-founder of Broadway Impact, the first and only grassroots organization to mobilize the nationwide theater community in support of marriage equality.

A native of Findlay, Ohio, he was a graduate of University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance and a 2022 Fellow at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. He was a board member of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The family requests that gifts in Gavin’s memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. There will be a small private gathering for the family and a celebration of life will be held for the community at a date to be announced. Gavin’s family and close friends are asking for privacy while they grieve.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy