Broadway Mourns Its Beloved Gavin Creel: “We Lost Our Prince”; Bette Midler, Casey Likes, Alex Edelman Among Those Paying Tribute (2024)

Broadway Mourns Its Beloved Gavin Creel: “We Lost Our Prince”; Bette Midler, Casey Likes, Alex Edelman Among Those Paying Tribute (1)

REFRESH FOR UPDATES: Today’s shocking news of the cancer death of stage star Gavin Creel has left Broadway reeling and in deep mourning. “We lost our prince,” wrote New York City Center, where Creel turned in a for-the-ages performance in the delightful 2022 revival of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into The Woods.

“I looked forward to working with him every single night,” tweeted his Hello, Dolly! star Bette Midler. “He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.”

Sutton Foster, who co-starred with Creel in 2002’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, wrote on Instagram, “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”

Among the more poignant remembrances pouring onto social media comes from Casey Likes, the young star of Broadway’s Almost Famous and Back to the Future.

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In a heartfelt post on social media, Likes writes, “absolutely crushed. Gavin came to almost famous and that is where we met. I was in a very rough place as that show was closing and his words of advice kept me going and inspired me the past two years of being a performer. We always said we would do something together. Our last conversation was his kindness after he saw back to the future. I thanked him for how much his words saved me 2 years ago. The man is one of the most inspiration, kind hearted, skilled and incredible people this industry has EVER seen.”

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NewsGavin Creel Dies: Tony-Winning Broadway Star Of ‘Waitress’, ‘Into The Woods’ Was 48

In a follow-up message, Likes writes, “I thanked gavin creel for basically saving my life and inspiring me to continue performing and this was his response: ‘So happy you are happy and in it. and I look forward to see you in the show when i get some time. keep going and keep enchanting audiences. we are lucky to have this time to do this work. lucky life.”

See those posts, along with others, below. Deadline will add additional tributes as they arrive…

I’ve just had to sit down. I keep rereading his name thinking everyone’s got it wrong.Not this man,not this beautiful, smiley,talented man.The absolute real deal, talent pouring out of every pore.I’m heartbroken you’ve gone Gavin. I hope to see you again my friend. God I’m shaken… pic.twitter.com/bYYupT4dNr

— Hannah Waddingham. (@hanwaddingham) September 30, 2024

Gavin was a friend and always an encouragement. We spent many moments backstage catching up, throughout my life, him always with a smile and a warmth, authenticity, and true, genuine interest. He was always so kind to me. I’m devastated, as I know many in the theater community… pic.twitter.com/GMYcQ18uX3

— Jinkx Monsoon (@JinkxMonsoon) September 30, 2024

Gavin Creel. What a beautiful soul what a fine person ,, a great performer and voice
RIP. We are all so sad 💔 pic.twitter.com/C8ESxUrrDx

— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) September 30, 2024

Marc Shaiman, composer and lyricist: “Gavin Creel was a true angel on earth, and now that angel has taken up residence elsewhere. We met when he was in the ensemble of a HAIRSPRAY reading way back in the day, and he sang countless demos for Scott Wittman & I…I saw Gavin in London once, at a moment in my life when I was VERY despondent, and he held me close and talked me off the emotional ledge and I won’t ever forget his kindness that day, and every other day. He was a bright light and his passing, at 48, is unfathomable. RIP Sweet Gavin.”

Gavin Creel was not only one of the greatest performers in Broadway history, he was an even better human. There’s not a person who crossed his path who won’t beam with joy just talking about him. The world is a much darker place without him. I am gutted and I’ll miss him forever.

— Rob Colletti (@robcolletti) September 30, 2024

Harvey Fierstein, actor and playwright: “Sweet, funny, gorgeous and loving with a honey-voice and impish glint in his eye… Gavin Creel died today at only 48. An unspeakable loss for Broadway. My heart goes out to his loved ones.”

“There are no words to describe this loss. Gavin was my first role model, idol and hero,”Ben Plattwrote in hisInstagram Stories. “He showed me around backstage after I saw my first Broadway show. I couldn’t believe someone that supernaturally talented could also be every single person in the building’s favorite human being. I wanted to sing just like him and be just like him.”

Gavin Creel was perfect friend, peer, role model, advice giver, confidant, cheerleader and a transcendent talent and nothing anyone says can do justice to how brilliant he was.

Devastated. pic.twitter.com/LDKocswxcC

— Alex Edelman (@AlexEdelman) September 30, 2024

All of us at Roundabout share our love, dismay, and sadness at Gavin Creel's untimely passing. Cancer is an unspeakable villain, but Gavin’s brief, brave struggle and his luminescent talent and kindness will inspire us always. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ehw3FmF2qP

— Roundabout (@roundaboutnyc) September 30, 2024

#gavincreel 💔 a colossal loss pic.twitter.com/n8bwAVnYqA

— Michael Urie (@michaelurie) September 30, 2024

"Gavin Creel made an indelible mark on the O'Neill . His talent was immense, his heart was full of generosity and his spirit was overflowing with joy. May you rest in peace, my friend, you will be greatly missed by us all." — Tiffani Gavin

— The O'Neill (@ONeill_Center) September 30, 2024

Today, we mourn the devastating loss of Tony Award winner Gavin Creel, whose extraordinary talent, kindness, and passion lit up the stage and our hearts. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/s3YjJkglN0

— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) September 30, 2024

Beloved by the #Broadway community, the radiant actor #GavinCreel has died from a rare form of cancer. He played Cornelius Hackl to my Dolly in “Hello Dolly” and I looked forward to working with him every single night. He was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) September 30, 2024

Gavin Creel pic.twitter.com/76u45IFn3I

— Casey Likes (@justcaseylikes) September 30, 2024

I thanked gavin creel for basically saving my life and inspiring me to continue performing and this was his response pic.twitter.com/mS8IbqOw5g

— Casey Likes (@justcaseylikes) September 30, 2024

We’re incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Gavin Creel who won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actor in A Musical for The Book Of Mormon. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/icGOYG404a

— Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) September 30, 2024

We lost our prince.

The New York City Center and Encores! family is devastated by the death of Gavin Creel today. The world has less light. pic.twitter.com/ECzs2kpzfg

— NEW YORK CITY CENTER (@NYCityCenter) September 30, 2024

The lights on Broadway will shine a little less. With a heavy heart, we mourn the loss of talented actor and devoted activist, Gavin Creel. pic.twitter.com/CBaIy2PMO3

— Shubert Organization (@ShubertOrg) September 30, 2024

One of Broadway's brightest lights has left us. We are deeply saddened by the news of actor and recording artist Gavin Creel's passing due to sarcoma at 48. Our condolences go out to his partner, family & colleagues. #SagAftraMember since 2002. #RIP https://t.co/Wlt4h9jgf2

— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) September 30, 2024

Gavin Creel was one of the greatest actors and musicians I have ever worked with. I admired and revered him not only as an artiste but also as a deeply beautiful person. My time working with him on The Book of Mormon in London remains one of the joys of my producing career. pic.twitter.com/Dha4Knik0f

— Sonia Friedman Productions (@SFP_London) September 30, 2024

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Gavin Creel, an extraordinary talent and beloved member of our musical theatre family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire theatre community during this difficult time.

Photo: Gavin Creel singing "Something Wonderful"… pic.twitter.com/5evbLSnL8e

— The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization (@RnH_Org) September 30, 2024

We're devastated to hear about the passing of Gavin Creel, the out actor and Broadway star who delighted audiences throughout the years. He was a co-founder of Broadway Impact, an advocacy group that mobilized the New York theatre community in the pursuit of marriage equality. In… pic.twitter.com/JoQX8hXPm2

— GLAAD (@glaad) September 30, 2024

I am so heartbroken to hear the news about Gavin Creel. He was wonderfully warm, kind and immensely talented – he was my Bert in Mary Poppins and took this theatre loving kid under his wing. Will never forget him buying Krispy Kreme’s for all the kids every single Saturday.💔 pic.twitter.com/9uL88TZtaJ

— Rob Madge (@Rob_Madge_02) September 30, 2024

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Broadway Mourns Its Beloved Gavin Creel: “We Lost Our Prince”; Bette Midler, Casey Likes, Alex Edelman Among Those Paying Tribute (2024)
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