Late Broadway Star Gavin Creel Once Spoke About Getting to 'Heaven' in Emotional Interview: 'I'll Know All My Lines'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gavin Creel on April 25, 2024.Photo:Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

Broadway starGavin Creelonce spoke poignantly about a career highlight in a resurfaced interview clip following his death at 48 on Sept. 30.

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, journalistPaul Wontorekshared a video clip from a 2012 interview he conducted with Creel, who died amid treatment for arare and aggressive form of cancer called sarcoma.

“When I die, and I mean this could sound really cheesy, I hope that I get to be that man again and do that play with those people,” Creel said in the clip posted on onInstagram, as the two discussed his performance inHair. “That’s my dream — my dream for when I die, that heaven will be — they’ll walk me in and I’ll know my lines, and I’ll get to do that play again.”

“They’ll let me do it one more time and that’ll be the first thing I do,” he added. “I’ll say hi to my grandmother, ‘cause I want to say hi to her first, and then they’ll walk me into the stage door and I’ll walk in and everyone will be there. It will be you and an amazing audience that’s ready to see us and we’ll get to do it.”

“That probably sounds like a Hallmark card, or super cheesy,” he joked. “But if I don’t get another moment like that in my career, I’ve had it. I’m grateful.”

Gavin Creel on Dec. 18, 2017.John Lamparski/Getty

John Lamparski/Getty

Creel, a longtime Broadway performer who appeared in 13 different productions between 2002 and 2022, starred as Claude in a revival ofHairfrom March 2009 through March 2010.

“Playing Claude in HAIR was a special experience for Gavin,” Wontorek captioned the clip of Creel. “It lit the fire of activism in his hippie soul, and helped him live his life openly as an LGBTQ hero for [so] many. ❤️”

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Dozens of Creel’s friends and former colleagues on Broadway have taken to social media to mourn his death since news broke on Monday. Among them isSutton Foster, who shared an image of the pair touching their noses together toInstagramon Oct. 1. “My sweet friend. I will love you forever,” she wrote.

Gavin Creel on May 25, 2017.Nicholas Hunt/Getty

Nicholas Hunt/Getty

Actor and singer Patti Murin shared a number ofphotos showing text exchangesbetween her and Creel to Instagram on Tuesday, writing that “his words are what I will remember most about him” after his death.

Laura Benanti shared an undated photo of Creel toInstagramas well, writing, “Anyone who has ever met Gavin remembers a moment (or many) when he made them feel seen and special.”

source: people.com