Broadway actor Gavin Creel died on Monday at the age of 48.

The Tony-winning star, known for his starring roles in Thoroughly modern Millie, Her and the recent resurgence of In the forest as well as his activism and positivity in the Broadway community, died after being diagnosed in July with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering before transitioning to hospice care at home.

His death was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward.

Known for his energetic and exuberant performances and his resonant voice, Creel won a Tony for his role as Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce in the 2017 revival Hello, Dolly!, directed by Jerry Zaks. Critics praised his portrayal of the enthusiastic store clerk THR critic David Rooney noted that Creel’s voice “had never sounded sweeter”, adding that “Creel and (Taylor) Trensch give such an upbeat launch to ‘Put on Your Sunday Clothes’ that by the time the friendly folks in begin to parade their finery and engulf the entire world stage with an explosion of Easter egg color, we are all in the air.

He last appeared on Broadway in the 2022 revival In the forestin which he played the “gloriously hammy” Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf in the production starring Sara Bareilles, a friend with whom he also co-starred in Waitress.

Last winter, Creel appeared off-Broadway Walk through: Confessions of a museum novicea musical for which Creel wrote and composed 17 songs about his own experience of falling in love with the Metropolitan Museum of Art after receiving a commission from the museum.

His breakout role came in 2002 when he played Jimmy Smith opposite budding star Sutton Foster in the Broadway production of Thoroughly modern Millie. He received a Tony nomination for that role and then carried that momentum into other roles, including the role of Jean-Michel in the 2004 revival. La Cage Aux Folles.

He returned to Broadway as Claude Hooper Bukowski, the Midwesterner who encounters a hippie tribe, in the Public Theater’s 2009 revival. Heropposite Will Swenson. During that production, Creel became an outspoken voice in the theater community for passage of the federal Marriage Equality Act and co-founded the nonprofit Broadway Impact with Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos. The group raised money for awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, and Creel was convincing Her‘s producers to cancel a performance so the company could attend the 2009 Equality March on Washington.

Creel also appeared on the West End in 2006 as Bert in Maria Poppins and reprized his role in the West End transfer of Her in 2010. Creel went on to win the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Elder Price. The Book of Mormon, which he also performed on tour in the US and would perform on Broadway.

In addition to his performance in Hello, Dolly!, Creel appeared in the 2016 revival She loves me, opposite Laura Benanti and Jane Krakowski.

Born on April 18, 1976 to James and Nancy Creel, Gavin grew up in Findlay, Ohio, where he demonstrated a gift for singing, performing and directing. He was introduced to musicals by an elementary school teacher, Nancy Glick, and after singing “Gary, Indiana” from Meredith Wilson’s The music manwas sold on the medium for life.

After graduating from Findlay High School in 1994, Gavin attended the Musical Theater Department at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1998. There he met his voice teacher and lifelong friend, Melody Racine, with whom he studied during college and in the years that followed.

Even after graduation, Gavin regularly returned to Michigan to teach master classes, teach voice lessons, and work with students while workshopping his own material. He and his best friend and fellow Michigan alumna, Celia Keenan-Bolger, established the Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund. to encourage students to participate in social justice causes at school. He also hosted a 2016 retirement celebration at the August Wilson Theater in New York City for department chairman Brent Wagner, called Corn & Blue on Broadway.

In addition to his work on stage, Creel played the singing waiter Bill in the films Eloise on the Plaza And Eloise at Christmas time alongside Dame Julie Andrews. In 2021, he was cast in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries, American horror storiesopposite Matt Bomer, and in 2022, Gavin’s solo concert was filmed for the premiere episode of PBS’s Stars on stage at Westport Country Playhouse.

Creel also wrote his own music, including pop songs inspired by artists such as Whitney Houston, and produced several albums with Robbie Roth, including GOOD TIME (2006), Calm (2010), Go away (2012), and his single Noise (2011), which raised money and awareness for marriage equality.

In 2019, Creel received a commission from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetLiveArts department, which led to the production of Walk through: Confessions of a museum novice.

In addition to his partner, he is survived by his parents, Nancy Clemens Creel and James Wiliiam Creel; his sisters, Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel and her, wife Jen Kolb; and his dog, Nina.

The funeral service is private. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. The family requests that gifts in his memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.