Gavin Creel has sadly passed away at 48

[TruHart1]

 

Gavin Creel, Tony-Winning Actor From ‘Hair’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!,’ Dies at 48

WWW.HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM

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He died Monday after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in July.

TruHart1 😎

[ShortCutie7]

Heartbreaking!  He was a great person in every way by all accounts I have ever heard.  

[Ali Gator]

He was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma ten weeks ago, and was on home hospice for the past few weeks - so I (personally) wouldn't call it 'sudden'.  It is shocking and surprising, as he had kept it private, and told no one outside his immediate circle (and they kept it quiet as well).  It's not uncommon to go quickly with this horrible cancer. 

That said, I was lucky enough to see him three times between 2017 -19; twice in 'Hello Dolly' where he was an incredible performer (once opposite Donna Murphy in 2017, then opposite Bernadette Peters in 2018). I became such a fan of his work, I went to see him in the musical 'Waitress!' in 2019, which has turned out to be my last trip to NYC / Broadway (as I never returned since the pandemic).

He was one of those actors filled with a contagious case of enthusiasm and energy on stage. The audience knew he just loved to be up on the stage singing, dancing and making the house laugh. He was a true performer - and definitely deserved his Tony. Broadway lost a great one at such a young age. 

Edited October 1, 2024 by Ali Gator

[MaybeMaybeNot]

I am so thankful I got to see him live once in "Into the Woods" on tour. I thought,  "Now I can see why people love him." I also enjoyed him in the live capture of "She Loves Me." Thank God one of his performances will live on on screen. 

From all accounts, he seemed like an amazing person.  

[+ purplekow]

3 hours ago, MaybeMaybeNot said:

I am so thankful I got to see him live once in "Into the Woods" on tour. I thought,  "Now I can see why people love him." I also enjoyed him in the live capture of "She Loves Me." Thank God one of his performances will live on on screen. 

From all accounts, he seemed like an amazing person.  

He was very talented.  On a side note, I love your avatar.  Who is that if you know.  PM me if that is easier.  

[+ nycman]

Amazing performer. Loved him in Throughly Modern Millie opposite Sutton Foster and in Hello Dolly opposite Bette Midler.

And man who can hold his own on stage opposite those two powerhouses, is a Star.

RIP.

[+ ApexNomad]

It’s bullshit that Broadway won’t dim all its marquees for Gavin Creel. He was a Tony and Olivier winner, starred in eight Broadway shows, and was key to the modern musical theatre scene. Dimming the lights is a one-minute gesture—a simple act of respect for someone who gave so much to the Broadway community. His death at 48 is a huge loss, and selectively dimming a few marquees sends the wrong message.

Broadway prides itself on being a community, yet when one of its brightest stars is taken far too soon, the response is partial and inadequate. If we can’t honor someone like Creel with a simple, full marquee dimming, what are we even saying about the value we place on our artists and their legacies? It’s disrespectful, dismissive, and frankly, a disgrace. Do better, Broadway. It’s the least you can do.

[+ nycman]

1 hour ago, ApexNomad said:

It’s bullshit that Broadway won’t dim all its marquees for Gavin Creel.

I have to agree.

It would almost be better to not dim any marquees rather than this half heart, lukewarm, limp wristed "tribute".  

[+ ApexNomad]

ALL lights will now be dimmed for Creel (and for Bailey and Smith too). About time! 👏
 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/broadway-dim-all-theater-lights-gavin-creel-maggie-smith-adrian-bailey-after-outcry-1236028707/

 

[skynyc]

I'm still saddened by the loss of Gavin Creel, had the good fortune to see him many times, always a star. His "Museum" show this Spring, Walking on Through was so great I went back twice.  Glad that they'll dim the lights.  The Broadway folks seem so short-sighted about this...making a tribute is good PR. I have made sure to be in Times Square a dozen times for various tributes...and every time, have either then gone to a show, or a restaurant in the area. The argument that they want to keep it "special and distinguished" is crazy. I know it creates an extra project for workers to prepare, upload, initiate, etc., but I am guessing that many of these folks worked at one time with the performers being memorialized, so they're probably not too upset to have to do it. 

[+ nycman]

7 hours ago, skynyc said:

His "Museum" show this Spring, Walking on Through was so great I went back twice.

De mortuis nil nisi bonum.

I hated that show. I thought it was a self indulgent mess. And that’s from someone who thought he was a great performer and loves the Met Museum. The powerful and show stopping "Judith" was the only performance worth remembering (and it was performed by someone else). Perhaps I went in with unrealistic expectations, but for me the show was the biggest disappointment of the season.

Still, he was an amazing performer and his death is a great loss for Broadway.