S Poddar
Gavin Creel, the prominent American stage and television actor who had played leads in other critically acclaimed productions including Hair, Hello, Dolly! , and American Horror Stories, dies from a rare aggressive form of cancer at the age of 48. His publicist, Matt Polk, said Creel died of soft tissue sarcoma, a cancer which begins in the soft tissues, such as muscle and fat, at his home in Manhattan, New York.
Creel was diagnosed with the disease in July. He was a popular figure in the theatre world, where his warm personality and energetic performances made him so well-loved. He was at the height of his career when in 2017 he bagged an award, a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He appeared on Broadway in the revival of Hello, Dolly!
- opposite Bette Midler, who starred as Dolly Levi. Reflecting on her work with him, Midler took to Instagram to say that she “looked forward to working with him every single night,” thereby capturing the great impact Creel was having with his peers and audiences in general. Creel’s ascent to fame came when he first played Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie back in 2002. This performance, teamed with newcomer Sutton Foster, earned him his first Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
Sutton Foster shared her deep affection for Creel after his passing by saying on Instagram, “My sweet friend.
I will love you forever.” Their chemistry on stage helped launch the careers of both actors, bringing Creel into the halls of theatre. A year later, in 2009, Creel received his second Tony nomination for playing the role of Claude Hooper Bukowski in the Broadway revival of Hair. The triumphant success of the musical further cemented his status as a powerhouse performer who can truly and easily seize the energy and emotion behind complex roles. Creel’s talent was not only meant to permeate the theatre halls of Broadway. He played the role of Bert in the first production of Disney and Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins in 2006 then reprised his role in its 2010 transfer into the West End. Four years on he had received all the international accolades for his work at the West End.
He won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Elder Price in London in the 2014 production of The Book of Mormon.
This was one of the most recognizable roles Creel performed, and he later reprised it on Broadway to much acclaim.
Creel also ventured into television and movies. He appeared in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries American Horror Stories in 2021 this time opposite Matt Bomer. He had roles in two films by the distinguished Dame Julie Andrews: Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime. One could say that Creel in every way was a chameleon, moving effortlessly between stage and screen.
Besides his work in theater and television, other famous roles for Creel include playing Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’s musical Waitress, both on Broadway in 2019 and in the West End a year later. He always brought joy to audiences through his performances and deserved admiration from his colleagues and the public.
Tributes started pouring in after the demise of Creel, to whom many showed much admiration but sadness at the passing of such a beloved figure. Belter Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt hailed Creel as his “first role model, idol, and hero” with the thought that the late Creel had administered great influence on younger generations of performers in his wake. British actress Hannah Waddingham reflected her heartbreak when she said: “Shaken to my core… not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man.”. Creel did well not only on stage but also on the good heart he showed himself to be with an optimistic outlook. He inspired countless people in his lifetime while inspiring others around him to be more devoted, artistic, and generous. The theater world and his fans across the globe are now grieving the loss of Gavin Creel, whose talent and spirit will be remembered in years to come. His remarkable achievements in theater, vibrant roles on television, and the joy he brought to every project he touched will, for sure, leave an indelible legacy.
