Tony winner Gavin Creel, known for performances in Thoroughly modern Millie, Her, The Book of Mormon and many more, passed away on September 30 after a battle with cancer. He was 48. The news was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward.

Mr. Creel was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma in July 2024 and underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering before transitioning to hospice home care.

A fixture in the theatrical community, Mr. Creel was known for his versatile acting chops in a career that often saw him alternate between comedy and drama, as a leading man and character actor. But performing was only one facet of Mr. Creel’s life. Blessed with a virtuoso voice in every sense of that word, Mr. Creel also used his gifts as a skilled writer to be a committed activist for the theater community.

Born April 18, 1976 to parents Nancy (Clemens) Creel and James William Creel, Mr. Creel grew up in Findlay, Ohio. In addition to frequently singing along with his piano-playing music teacher grandmother, Mr. Creel found his love of Broadway with an elementary school teacher, Nancy Glick, who gave him his first solo with The music man“Gary, Indiana.” He would graduate from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater, and Dance in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater.

After working in regional theater for a while and performing in the national tour of FameMr. Creel made his Broadway debut playing Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly modern Millie in 2002 – the musical premiered on his 26th birthday. His performance earned him his first Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Mr. Creel would go on to star in a host of Broadway shows after his groundbreaking performance, including Herfor which he received his second Tony nomination; La Cage aux Folles; She loves me; The Book of Mormon; WaitressesS; And Hello, Dolly!—the latter of which earned him a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor. Mr. Creel also starred in West End series The Book of Mormon, Maria PoppinsAnd Waitress. For his performance as Elder Price in the original West End production of MormonMr. Creel received an Olivier Award for Best Actor.

His most recent stage role was the lead role as Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf in the 2022 revival In the forestfirst at New York City Center Encores! and later in the production’s Broadway transfer and North American national tour.

On screen, Mr. Creel appeared in the films Eloise on the Plaza And Eloise at Christmas timethe filmed version of She loves meand the FX spin-off American horror storiesfilm and television credits, among others.

But Mr. Creel was a multi-faceted artist; in addition to being a talented actor, he was also an accomplished songwriter. During his career he released two full-length albums, Good time And Go away; an EP, Calmwhich reached number 44 on Billboard’s list of Top Heatseekers; and two singles, “Noise (Equality Now)” and “Whitney Houston.” A committed activist, he co-founded Broadway Impact with Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos in 2009 during the fight for marriage equality. Mr. Creel donated all proceeds from the sale of Noise to support the group. He also founded a scholarship fund with his best friend and fellow Michigan alum, Celia Keenan-Bolger, aimed at supporting students engaged in social justice in college.

His last stage appearance was indoors Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice. Mr. Creel was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a musical inspired by the institution. With a book, music and lyrics by Creel, Walk on was developed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 2022 National Music Theater Conference before making its world premiere Off-Broadway at the MCC Theater in 2023. Traveling through the museum and working with the collection with a series of original songs, Mr. Creel gave the audience a glimpse into his own existential crisis, how he got to where he was and what kept him moving forward.

When Mr. Creel discussed it Walk on with Playbill at the time, he explained that the show illustrated how the idea that we are all alone is actually the one thing that universally connects us all. “The one thing that binds us all together is the one thing that divides us all,” he said. “Even a twin brother will jump out alone before the other twin brother comes out. Even if we are both in a car going off a cliff, one of us will crash first and go out first. If you can accept that you are alone in this world, then you can accept that that is not the case.” During the interview, Creel pointed to the tattoo on his wrist, the word “both,” written in simple lower case letters. “Both things can be true at the same time,” he added, “That’s both sides of me, the me that’s just darkness.” and sees shadows; and then there is the me that says: ‘There are so many possibilities and hope.’

Mr. Creel is survived by partner Ward, mother Nancy Clemens Creel, father James William Creel, sisters Heather Creel and Allyson Creel, sister-in-law Jennifer Kolb and dog Nina. Mr. Creel’s family is asking for donations in his memory to be made to Broadway Cares.

There are plans for a communal celebration of life.

“Today we not only lost one of the good, but the best,” read a statement from Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares. “In addition to the radiant talent that Gavin Creel shared with all of us on stage, he mastered the ability to energize, mobilize and inspire others by sharing the best of himself, which was simply his loving, joyful heart.

“Gavin once said, ‘What I love about being in the theater is the sense of family and belonging to a community that cares for each other. We become better by giving back.’

“Gavin certainly lived by example. His selfless determination to channel his talents and gifts into tangible, life-saving help challenged us to be better, do more and rise up, always with a smile that was welcoming, flirtatious and for some it was a bit mysterious.” kind of surprise.

“Gavin was one of the most vibrant voices in our National Grants Program committee meetings and on our Board of Trustees, where he served since 2015. He was an unmistakable light who leaves a genuine glow in our theater community and in the lives of countless people he never met who received meals, medicine, support and hope through his work at Broadway Cares.

“I remember seeing Gavin pop into the lobby bar of the theater during the national tour with a red bucket in hand The Book of Mormonwhere the audience is enthusiastically persuaded, encouraged and convinced to make a donation. With such cheerful passion he begged people to donate. He engaged everyone he spoke to to do more, to make a bigger impact, always returning to the question: ‘Why?’ wouldn’t we help people?’

“Last spring, Gavin hosted the Broadway Cares donor party Hats off to you. Before jumping into a performance of ‘Trouble’ The music manhe took a step back and reflected on his connection to Broadway Cares.

“The world is broken right now and it feels to me like it’s falling apart,” he said. “Broadway Cares is one of the things I look at as a light on the horizon.” As we will now watch him forever.

“At the Easter hat competition in April 2015, Gavin, after which he played the lead role The Book of Mormon on Broadway – sang our anthem, “Help Is on the Way,” in a way never heard before or since. His voice was a gentle, shining beacon of activism that offered hope to many. His song from the heart will forever be a part of our lives, especially as it reminds us to reach out with hope and go beyond ourselves with love.”

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Celebrating Gavin Creel’s career on the Broadway stage

Enter Gavin Creel and Sutton Foster Thoroughly modern Millie

The company of La Cage aux Folles