Gavin Creel: Tony Award-winning star dies aged 48
Gavin Creel, the US stage musical and TV actor known for roles in Hair, Hello, Dolly! and American Horror Stories, has died at the age of 48 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Creel, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in July, died at his home in Manhattan, New York, his publicist Matt Polk said.
Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissue, such as muscle and fat, according to the NHS website.
Creel won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler’s Dolly Levi in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!
Gavin Creel poses with his Tony award in 2017
Pic: Invision/AP
On Instagram, Midler said she “looked forward to working with him every single night”.
His career took off after he starred as Jimmy Smith, opposite fellow newcomer Sutton Foster, in another revival – on Broadway – of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, which won him his first Tony nomination for best leading actor in a musical.
Foster said in a post on Instagram: “My sweet friend. I will love you forever.”
His second Tony nod came seven years later for best leading actor in a musical as Claude Hooper Bukowski in the revival of Hair.
Gavin Creel attends the opening night of ‘Mother Play’ in April.
Pic: Shutterstock
He made his West End debut in 2006 as Bert in Disney and Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins and reprised his role in the West End transfer of Hair in 2010.
Creel went on to win the Olivier Award for best actor in a musical in 2014 for playing Elder Price in The Book Of Mormon, a role he proceeded to play on Broadway.
He also ventured into the world of TV and film, starring in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries American Horror Stories, opposite Matt Bomer in 2021; as well as opposite Dame Julie Andrews in Eloise At The Plaza and Eloise At Christmastime.
Other notable roles include Dr Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’s musical Waitress on Broadway in 2019 and on the West End a year later.
Among those paying tribute was Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt, who described Creel as his “first role model, idol, and hero”.
British star Hannah Waddingham said on X she was “shaken to my core” following his death, writing “not this man, not this beautiful, smiley, talented man”.
Read more:
Rust weapons conviction upheld
Musician and actor Kris Kristofferson dies
Abbingdon welcomes BBC Strictly apology
Frozen stars Idina Menzel and Josh Gad also paid tribute on social media.
There will be a small private gathering for the family and a celebration of his life will be held for the community at a date to be announced, Mr Polk said.
Quincy Jones, the music producer and composer, has died at the age of 91.
Jones worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many other artists.
Among his best-known credits was as the producer of Jackson’s historic Thriller album.
Jones oversaw the all-star recording of the 1985 charity record We Are The World.
He also composed the soundtrack to the hit 1969 British film The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine.
Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Pic: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch /IPX/AP
Naomi Campbell, left, and Claudia Schiffer flank Quincy Jones. Pic: AP
His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed Jones died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday surrounded by his family.
In a statement, his family said: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’s passing.
“And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Pic: AP
Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. Pic: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch /IPX/AP
His family added Jones was “truly one of a kind” who they would “miss dearly”.
“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” they added.
“Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”
His career, which spans more than 75 years, saw him achieve 28 Grammy award wins out of 80 nominations.
He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine.
Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are The World and was among the charity single’s featured singers, called Jones “the master orchestrator”.
Read more from Sky News:
Shocking moments from US election campaign
Elon Musk weighs in on euthanised squirrel row
Jones, a father of seven, was married three times to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson and Peggy Lipton.
His children include music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for Parks And Recreation and the US version of The Office.
Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has said he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The 47-year-old American actor – famous for his role as Dawson Leery in the drama series – told US outlet People on Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
Bowel cancer – sometimes also called colorectal cancer – starts in the colon or the rectum, which makes up the large intestine in the digestive system.
It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, with around 42,900 people diagnosed each year.
Speaking to People, Van Der Beek added: “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
The 47-year-old actor is best known for playing Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek. Pic: Columbia Tristar/Everett/Shutterstock
He said he has been prioritising time with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
The actor – also known for his roles in Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber, and the FX drama Pose – also posted on Instagram about his diagnosis.
Read more:
Music titan Quincy Jones dies
Dawson’s Creek star Obi Ndefo dies aged 51
Foodie describes life without tongue after mouth cancer
Van Der Beek said he planned on “planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon,” but instead announced the news on Sunday morning “when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news”.
He then added: “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialling in my overall health with greater focus than ever before.
“I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
In December, Van Der Beek will appear in the Fox special The Real Full Monty, which will see male celebrities strip naked to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research.
Margot Robbie has reportedly given birth to her first child.
The Australian actress has welcomed a baby boy with her husband, British actor and film producer Tom Ackerley, according to People magazine.
The couple have not publicly announced the arrival or revealed the baby’s name.
The 34-year-old actress went into labour two weeks ago, shortly before her due date, according to the Mail On Sunday.
(L-R) Tom Ackerley, film producer Bronte Payne, Robbie and Josey McNamara. Pic: Reuters
Robbie’s pregnancy became public in July, when the couple were pictured on holiday in Italy, followed by several red carpet appearances.
Robbie and Ackerley married in Byron Bay in 2016 after meeting three years previously on the set of World War II drama Suite Francaise.
Prior to becoming a couple, Robbie described herself as the “ultimate single gal” in an interview with Vogue.
She said Ackerley changed all that, and after being friends “for so long,” eventually “it happened”.
The Barbie actress went on to say their relationship “makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before”.
Robbie and Ackerley met in 2013. Pic: Reuters
Read More
Police investigating Russell Brand allegations hand file to CPS
Queen Elizabeth II to appear in Paddington In Peru
Robbie and Ackerley founded production company LuckyChap Entertainment in 2014, along with British assistant director Josey McNamara and Australian film producer Sophie Kerr.
Championing female-focused film and TV, it has been involved with movies including Barbie and Saltburn, and the Netflix series Maid.
Sky News has reached out to representatives for Robbie and Ackerley for comment.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports7 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway