**Broadway Mourns the Loss of Gavin Creel at Age 48**

Broadway and the greater theater community are grieving today following the passing of beloved actor Gavin Creel. The esteemed musical theater star passed away in Manhattan at the age of 48, just two months after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma. His partner, Alex Temple Ward, confirmed the sad news. Creel, who had been receiving treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering for metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, ultimately transitioned to hospice care at home.

Creel's career on Broadway was marked by outstanding performances and critical acclaim. He made his debut in 2002 with a lead role in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," earning a Tony Award nomination. He continued to captivate audiences in the 2009 revival of "Hair," which garnered him a second Tony nomination. From 2012 to 2015, Creel starred in "The Book of Mormon," a role that brought him an Olivier Award when he reprised it for the West End production.

In 2017, Creel won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl in the critically acclaimed revival of "Hello, Dolly!" opposite Bette Midler. His stage career also included noteworthy roles in "La Cage aux Folles" (2004), "She Loves Me" (2016), "Waitress" (2019), and "Into the Woods" (2022). On television, he appeared in "American Horror Story" and the animated series "Central Park" in 2021.

Born Gavin James Creel on April 18, 1976, in Findlay, Ohio, Creel showcased his musical talents from a young age. He often sang along with his grandmother, a music teacher, who played the piano. He performed his first solo in an elementary school production of "The Music Man." Creel later attended the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater, and Dance, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1998 and formed a lasting bond with his voice teacher, Melody Racine.

Creel was not only celebrated for his onstage achievements but also recognized as an activist in the Broadway community. He co-founded the non-profit organization Broadway Impact and was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, including actively lobbying for the federal Marriage Equality Act. His advocacy work included mobilizing the cast of "Hair" to participate in the historic Equality March on Washington, DC, in 2009.

Despite his primary focus on the stage, Creel ventured into other artistic endeavors, including television and film roles, and released several musical albums. His recordings like "Goodtimenation" (2006) and "Quiet" (2010) highlighted his talents as a singer-songwriter. In 2019, he received a commission from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's MetLiveArts Department, which led to his creation of a song cycle inspired by the museum's collections.

Creel's legacy is celebrated by his family, including his mother Nancy Clemens Creel, father James William Creel, sisters Heather Elise Creel, and Allyson Jo Creel and her wife Jen Kolb, along with his partner Alex Temple Ward. He is preceded in death by his grandparents and cousin Amy P. Walker. While a private funeral service will be held, a memorial is planned for a later date. Contributions in Creel's memory are requested to be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.