Creel’s first major Broadway role was as Jimmy Smith opposite fellow newcomer Sutton Foster in the 2002 revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned him his first Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
“My sweet friend. I will love you forever,” Foster wrote on Instagram., external
Creel also played Claude Hooper Bukowski in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair.
He made his West End debut as Bert in Mary Poppins in 2006, and reprized his role in the West End Transfer of Hair in 2010.
Other roles include Dr Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’ musical Waitress, which opened on Broadway in 2019, a role she took on in the West End a year later.
Creel’s TV career includes two episodes of Ryan Murphy’s miniseries American Horror Stories in 2021 opposite Matt Bomer.
He also starred opposite Dame Julie Andrews in the early 2000s TV movies Eloise At The Plaza and Eloise At Christmastime.
The star also co-founded Broadway Impact, a grassroots organization that aims to mobilize the theater community in support of marriage equality.
He was born in Findlay, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Michigan College of Music.
Creel’s publicist said there will be a small, private gathering for his family and a celebration of his life will be held for the theater community at a yet-to-be-announced date.
