The Tony Award-winning Broadway star dies at age 48 from an aggressive form of cancer

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Gavin Creel – songwriter, singer and stage actor known for his roles in productions such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair, She Loves Me and Hello, Dolly! – died on Monday, September 30, at age 48.

His death comes months after he was diagnosed with an aggressive, rare cancer.

According to a representative for Creel, who confirmed his death to NBC News, Creel was diagnosed with metastatic melanotic sarcoma of the peripheral nerve sheath back in July and was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

His death was also confirmed by his partner Alex Temple Ward, according to People, who also reported that the star transitioned to hospice care at home after treatment at Sloan Kettering.

Metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bones or soft tissues such as fat, blood vessels and nerves.

The actor’s family and close friends request privacy at this time as they mourn and would like gifts in Creel’s memory to be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

There will be a small private family gathering and celebration of life for the community at a date to be announced.

Creel’s Broadway career spanned 20 years.

According to his website, he made his Broadway debut in 2002 as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned him his first Tony nomination. Creel then starred in “Hair,” which also earned him a nomination. His other shows include “La Cage aux Folles”; “She loves me”; “The Book of Mormon”; and “waitress.” He also won a Tony Award in 2017 for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in “Hello, Dolly!”

The actor was also known for his energetic physical performances, winning a Grammy in 2023 for his performance in Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and an Olivier Award in 2014 for his performance as Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon.” ”

Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, described the late actor as “not just one of the good ones, but the best.”

“In addition to the radiant talent that Gavin Creel shared with all of us on stage, he mastered the ability to motivate, mobilize and inspire others by sharing the best of himself, which was simply his loving, joyful heart.” he said in a statement.

The Shubert Organization, the oldest professional theater group in the United States, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the “lights on Broadway will shine a little less” after Creel’s death.

SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union of which Creel was a member, wrote in its post on X that “one of Broadway’s brightest lights has passed on.”