Gavin Creel, the American stage musical and television actor, known for roles in Hair, Hello, Dolly! and American Horror Stories, has died at the age of 48 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Creel, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in July, died at his home in Manhattan, New York, said his publicist Matt Polk.

According to the NHS website, soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissue such as muscle and fat.

Creel won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler’s Dolly Levi in ​​the revival of Hello, Dolly! in 2017.

On Instagram, Midler said she “looked forward to working with him every night.”

His career took off after he played the role of Jimmy Smith alongside fellow newcomer Sutton Foster in another revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway in 2002, earning him his first Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical brought in.

Foster said in a post on Instagram: “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”

He received his second Tony nomination seven years later for Best Actor in a Musical as Claude Hooper Bukowski in the revival of “Hair.”

He made his West End debut in 2006 as Bert in Disney and Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins and reprized his role in the 2010 West End adaptation of Hair.

Creel won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, a role he later played on Broadway.

He also ventured into the world of television and film, starring opposite Matt Bomer in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries American Horror Stories in 2021; and alongside Dame Julie Andrews in Eloise At The Plaza and Eloise At Christmastime.

Other notable roles include Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’ musical Waitress on Broadway in 2019 and in the West End a year later.

Among those who paid tribute was Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt, who described Creel as his “first role model, idol and hero.”

British star Hannah Waddingham said on

Read more:
Conviction for Rust weapons confirmed
Musician and actor Kris Kristofferson has died
Abbingdon welcomes BBC Strictly apology

“Frozen” stars Idina Menzel and Josh Gad also paid tribute on social media.

There will be a small private gathering for the family and the community will celebrate his life at a date to be announced, Mr. Polk said.