Actor Gavin Creel passes away—Broadway stars & friends pay tribute

Bette Midler

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."

Cheyenne Jackson

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."

Sutton Foster

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.

Matt Bomer

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."

Anthony Rapp

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."

Laura Bell Bundy

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.

Kristin Chenoweth

Celisse

Laura Benanti

Michael Urie

Alexandra Billings

Bernadette Peters

Denée Benton

Audra McDonald

Hannah Waddingham

Drew Droege

Julia Lester

Jenn Colella

Kerry Butler

Rosie O'Donnell

Rory O'Malley

Victoria Clark

Donna Murphy

WATCH: Tony Winner Gavin Creel on Into the Woods, Broadway, and the Arts