Gavin Creel, best known for his award-winning performances on stage, has passed away, leaving the theatre world in mourning. Creel earned a Tony Award in 2017 for his role as Cornelius Hackl in *Hello, Dolly!* opposite Bette Midler, who paid tribute to him on Instagram, calling him a “radiant actor” and adding, “I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.”
Creel also made his mark in London’s West End, winning an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2014 for his performance as Elder Price in *The Book of Mormon*, a role he later reprised on Broadway. British actress Hannah Waddingham expressed her grief on social media, saying, “I’m shaken to my core… Not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who cast Creel as the first King George III during the early workshops of *Hamilton*, also paid tribute. Miranda reminisced about Creel’s ability to captivate the audience with “nothing but a Burger King crown and his mind-blowing charisma.” He described Creel as “so loved” and said, “It is unimaginable that he’s no longer with us.”
Other stars, including *Frozen* actors Idina Menzel and Josh Gad, also shared their tributes online. Sutton Foster, who starred alongside Creel in his first major Broadway role in *Thoroughly Modern Millie* in 2002, expressed her sorrow on Instagram, saying, “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”
Creel’s impressive career also included his portrayal of Claude Hooper Bukowski in the 2009 revival of *Hair* on Broadway, solidifying his legacy as a beloved and talented performer.
Gavin Creel made his West End debut in 2006 as Bert in *Mary Poppins* and later returned to the West End in 2010 to reprise his role in the transfer of *Hair*. His versatility on stage continued with his portrayal of Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’ musical *Waitress* on Broadway in 2019, a role he brought to the West End the following year.
In addition to his stage work, Creel made notable appearances on television, including a role opposite Matt Bomer in Ryan Murphy’s *American Horror Stories* in 2021. Earlier in his career, he starred alongside Dame Julie Andrews in the TV movies *Eloise At The Plaza* and *Eloise At Christmastime* in the early 2000s.
Beyond his performances, Creel co-founded Broadway Impact, a grassroots organization dedicated to mobilizing the theatre community in support of marriage equality. Born in Findlay, Ohio, Creel graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music.
His publicist announced that a small, private gathering for the family will be held, with a larger celebration of his life for the theatre community to be scheduled at a later date.
