Gavin Creel, the acclaimed TV and Broadway star, has passed away at the age of 48 due to a “rare and aggressive” form of cancer, as confirmed by his publicist Matt Polk. Creel was celebrated for his performances in numerous stage productions, notably in Hello Dolly! alongside Bette Midler, which earned him a Tony Award in 2017 for his role as Cornelius Hackl. Midler honored Creel on Instagram, calling him a “radiant actor” and expressing her disbelief at his passing, stating, “What a loss.”
In addition to his success on Broadway, Creel had a notable career in London’s West End, where he received an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2014 for his portrayal of Elder Price in The Book Of Mormon. He later reprised this role on Broadway. British actress Hannah Waddingham shared her devastation on social media, saying she was “shaken to my core” by the news. “I can’t believe it. Not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man,” she wrote, expressing her heartbreak.
Lin-Manuel Miranda also paid tribute to Creel, recalling how he was cast as the first King George III during the early stages of Hamilton. Miranda described Creel’s captivating presence, stating, “He wrapped the audience around his finger with nothing but a Burger King crown and his mind-blowing charisma and talent.” He expressed his sorrow over Creel’s passing and extended his condolences to all who had the privilege of knowing him. Tributes also poured in from Frozen stars Idina Menzel and Josh Gad on social media.