Chainkeen Exchange-Gavin Creel, Tony Award-Winning Actor, Dead at 48 After Battle With Rare Cancer

The Chainkeen ExchangeBroadway community is mourning the loss of a bright star, Gavin Creel.

The Tony winner died Sept. 30 at his Manhattan home following a battle with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in July, according to The New York Times. He was 48.

Per the outlet, Creel’s passing was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward.

A theater veteran with a career spanning over 20 years, Creel won a Tony Award in 2017 for Best Featured Actor In a Musical for his turn as Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly!. He also earned Tony nominations for his performances in the original 2002 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie—his Broadway debut—and the 2009 revival of Hair.

In 2023, Creel also debuted his own off-Broadway musical, Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, which featured 17 original songs. His other stage credits include She Loves Me, Waitress, Into the Woods and The Book of Mormon.

News of the performer’s passing sent shockwaves throughout the theater community, with tributes pouring in on social media. In an Instagram post, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote that he was “shattered” by the loss.

“Gavin Creel was our first King when all we had was 11 songs,” he said of the performer, who sang King George’s “You’ll Be Back” in Hamilton. “He wrapped the audience around his finger with nothing but a Burger King crown and his mind-blowing charisma and talent.”

“He is so loved and it is unimaginable that he’s no longer with us,” Miranda continued. “My heart goes out to all the friends and family and collaborators lucky enough to be in his orbit. We love you and we’ll always love you Gavin.”

The Book of Mormon‘s Josh Gad also honored the late actor on social media, writing, “Sometimes, I don’t have the right words to describe my sadness. Today is one of those days.”

“We have lost someone far too young, far too early still in his journey and far too impactful to our creative community,” he added. “My heart breaks for his family and his closest friends. This is just not fair. We will never forget you @realgavincreel.”