Hello, Dolly! Star Gavin Creel Wins His First Tony Award

Fifteen years after his Broadway debut, Gavin Creel has won his first Tony Award! Creel wins in the Best Featured Actor in a Musical category for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre. Creel's win was announced on June 11 at the Tonys ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. The other nominees in the category were Mike Faist for Dear Evan Hansen, Andrew Rannells for Falsettos, Lucas Steele for The Great Comet and Brandon Uranowitz for Falsettos.

"Oh my goodness me! I want to thank everyone in Hello, Dolly!—I love all of you," said a gobsmacked Creel in his acceptance speech.



Creel takes home the Tony upon his third nomination. He was previously nominated for his turn as Claude in Hair (2009) and his Broadway-debut performance as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002). In a moving moment, Creel's Millie co-star Sutton Foster presented him with his Tony.

Creel's other Broadway appearances have included the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles (his first collaboration with Hello, Dolly! director Jerry Zaks), as well as She Loves Me and The Book of Mormon. Creel won an Olivier Award for his performance as Elder Price in the London debut of the latter. He reprised his Hair performance in the West End and also appeared across the pond in Mary Poppins.

Check out Creel in his sit-down with Broadway.com Editor-in-Chief Paul Wontorek in the video below.