Gavin Creel, a celebrated Broadway actor who won a Tony Award for his roles in productions such as “Hello, Dolly!” and “Hair,” has sadly passed away at the age of 48.

Creel died on Monday at his residence in New York after battling metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. A spokesperson for the actor confirmed his health condition to YSL News. He was diagnosed in July and was undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering before receiving hospice care at his home.

In 2017, Creel received the Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for his outstanding performance as Cornelius Hackl in “Hello, Dolly!” His first nomination came in 2002 for best leading actor in a musical for his role as Jimmy Smith in that year’s Tony-winning musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” This marked his Broadway debut, despite having performed in various productions since the late 1990s.

Creel earned another Tony nomination in 2009 for his portrayal of Claude in “Hair,” which was awarded best musical revival.

Creel hailed from Findlay, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance. Aside from his memorable roles on Broadway, he portrayed Dr. Pomatter in “Waitress,” Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf in “Into the Woods,” and Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon.” His work in “The Book of Mormon” also earned him the Laurence Olivier Award for best actor in a musical in 2014.

In addition to his theater work, Creel appeared on the series “American Horror Stories” and lent his voice to animated shows like “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure” and “Central Park.”

Tributes pour in for Gavin Creel from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Josh Gad

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of “Hamilton,” shared a heartfelt tribute to Creel on Instagram, remembering his “incredible charisma and talent.”

Miranda expressed, “He is deeply loved, and it’s unfathomable to think he’s no longer with us. My heart goes out to all his friends, family, and colleagues who had the privilege of knowing him. We love you, Gavin, and will always cherish your memory.”

Josh Gad, known for his role in “The Book of Mormon,” also honored Creel, stating that “we have lost someone far too young, far too soon, and far too influential in our artistic community.” He further added, “My heart breaks for his family and closest friends. This is just so unfair.”

Casey Likes, the lead in Broadway’s “Back to the Future: The Musical,” expressed his profound sadness in an Instagram story, recalling how Creel offered him advice that “kept me inspired and motivated.” He described Creel as “one of the most inspirational, kind-hearted, talented, and remarkable individuals this industry has ever known.”

Understanding sarcoma

A representative for Creel confirmed that the actor passed away due to a “rare and aggressive type of sarcoma.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sarcomas are a category of cancerous tumors that “arise in bone and connective tissues, including fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and the tissue surrounding bones and joints.” These types of tumors are uncommon and account for roughly 1% of cancer diagnoses in adults.