American Horror Stories actor Gavin Creel dies aged 48 just two months after he’s diagnosed with cancer
AMERICAN Horror Stories star Gavin Creel has died aged 48, just two months after his cancer diagnosis.
Creel found he had metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma – a rare type of cancer that forms in connective tissue like bones and muscle – in July.
He was receiving treatment at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering following his devastating diagnosis but transitioned to hospice care before he died.
Creel performed on Broadway and bagged a Tony Award nomination following his debut as a lead in the 2002 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
He earned a further nomination for his performance in the 2009 revival of Hair before earning a Laurence Olivier Award for playing Elder Price in the West End version of The Book of Mormon.
After returning to Broadway in She Loves Me in 2016, Creel won the 2017 Tony Award for his featured role in that year’s revival of Hello, Dolly!
His last US stage role came in the acclaimed production of Into the Woods in 2022.
But Creel might’ve been best known to the wider audience for his TV roles.
Creel was seen in two episodes of the first season of the hit US show American Horror Stories.
Born on April 18, 1976, Creel attended the University of Michigan’s prestigious musical theater program, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1998.
He dedicated his Tony Award win to the program which had a profound impact on his life.
“My education there as a young person changed my life forever,” Creel said during his Tonys acceptance speech.
Heartbroken fans have now paid tribute to the actor.
“I’m so devastated about Gavin Creel. I remember spending so days in my room listening and singing to the revivals of Pippin and Hair, TMM and many more shows that have kept my love for musicals alive,” one fan wrote on X.
“Gavin Creel was an extraordinarily talented performer but an even better person. Each time i met & spoke with him he was just so genuine and kind, i cannot believe he’s passed,” another said.
“I’m shocked by the news of Gavin Creel’s death. Such a huge talent, gone much too soon. Loved him in Into the Woods, but my favorite performance ever will always be this one,” someone else said.
Another wrote: “Genuinely devastated gavin creel was one of the greatest men in contemporary musical theatre.”
A third posted: “An absolute all-timer… we were so, so lucky to have Gavin Creel.”