The Broadway community is coming together to mourn one of its greats.
Tony and Olivier-winning actor and marriage equality activist Gavin Creel tragically passed away from a rare type of cancer at the age of 48. Now, an outpouring of love and support is being shared about the late actor.
Creel made his Broadway debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, which earned him a Tony nomination. He then starred in the Broadway revival of Hair in 2009, once again earning a Tony nomination.
It was during that run in Hair when Creel came out in an interview with The Advocate.
"I also want to be able to get married legally, and it doesn't make any sense for me to parade around trying to get marriage equality while not being open about who I am," he said at the time. "It doesn't inspire young men and women struggling with their own sexuality to be confident in who they are if I'm not confident in who I am."
Throughout his career, he also earned an Olivier Award for originating the role of Elder Price in the West End production of The Book of Mormon, earned a Tony for playing Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, and won a Grammy for the Into the Woods soundtrack.
Now, Broadway stars and Creel's community and friends are pouring out tributes to the late, great actor.
His Hello, Dolly! costar Bette Midler wrote "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."
Jackson posted a video of the two of them dueting on "When We Were Young" by Adele and wrote "Our final duet. See you on the other side, babe."
Matthew Morrison commented on the post, saying "This made me weep. Those voices together. Thank you for sharing this video with the world. I needed it, and will continue to need it."
Other Broadway greats like Kristen Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Jonathan Groff, Rosie O'Donnell, Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp, Matt Bomer, and Sutton Foster, who starred with him in Thoroughly Modern Millie, also paid tribute.
Bomer wrote, "I love you forever Gavin Creel. You’ve been- and continue to be- an inspiration and a light to me for 24 years…and counting. I am so grateful for your love, your courage, your joy, your curiosity, your friendship, your beautiful smile, and all of the million things that made everyone who knew you fall in love with you. You were-and are-a generational talent, and an even better human being. I love you always."
Rapp said that Creel's death "is just awful, shocking, devastating news. Gavin was always terrifically kind and supremely talented, and is gone far far far far far too soon. He was excellent in everything I saw him do, but what leaps to the top of the heap of his monumental achievements for me is his performance in 'Hair.' I will never forget his indelible, electrifying, achingly joyful rendition of 'I Got Life' for as long as I live."
One of the most common compliments has been people pointing out that as great of an actor he was, Creel was an even better human.
Laura Bell Bundy, the star of Broadway shows like Hairspray and Legally Blonde, said that "I have been in a state of shock all day. I’m not sure I can even really find the words. Gavin Creel was the brightest of lights, the greatest of talents, the kindest of humans. So funny. So game. Such an advocate. But one of us. It’s really hard to believe he’s left our earthly realm."
Scroll through to see more tributes to Creel.
