Gavin Creel fans were left in tears as touching story about the actor and his ex-boyfriend Jonathan Groff resurfaced.
The beloved Broadway star passed away on Monday while receiving treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer – according to his partner, Alex Temple Ward.
Jonathan, dated Gavin in 2009, and previously told of how his love for the late star ‘gave him the strength’ to publicly come out as gay.
The Frozen star, 39, who first shot to fame on Broadway in the 2006 musical Spring Awakening, told his friends and family when he was 23, but waited another year to publicly announce his sexuality.
When the heartwarming story resurfaced following Gavin’s death, fans shared their condolences and sent Jonathan their ‘love.’
Gavin Creel fans were left in tears as touching story about the actor and his ex-boyfriend Jonathan Groff resurfaced (Jonathan pictured last year)
The Broadway star passed away on Monday while receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer – according to his partner, Alex Temple Ward (Gavin pictured in 2017)
They wrote on X: ‘Thinking of Jonathan Groff’s story about how his relationship with Gavin Creel gave him the strength to come out publicly’; ‘I know Jonathan had no social media but I truly am thinking of him right now as I know he and Gavin once were an item. I can’t imagine losing someone you were once involved with you know It must be soul crushing but like truly painful’;
‘It’s really beautiful how we all just need that one person to give us permission to be our full authentic self. I’m glad Jonathan had that and was given the strength he needed in that moment’;
‘What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this’; ‘Oh how beautiful’; ‘I hope Jon is being loved right now it’s so sad’; I’m not crying or anything….’; ‘That story about Jonathan Groff’s coming out always makes me cry. I can picture it so vividly.’
Speaking to Interview Magazine, Jonathan recalled how after coming out to his brother, he hadn’t thought about telling the public.
While attending March on Washington for Marriage Equality, he ‘froze’ when asked who he was there to represent by a reporter, but was urged to come out as gay after looking over at his then partner.
He told the publication: ‘I froze. I hadn’t even thought about coming out as a public person. She was like, “Oh my god, never mind. I’m so sorry.” And then she moved along.
‘I really remember this moment of looking over to the right and seeing Gavin. He had also just recently come out a year or two before, and seeing him with a bullhorn corralling the people, god, I was so in love with him. I was like, “Oh my god, I am coming out. I’m coming out. I’m coming out.”
‘So I went back over to her and I was like, “Hi, please excuse my hesitation, I’m gay.” And that was how I came out publicly at the March on Washington for Marriage Equality.’
Jonathan, dated Gavin in 2009, and previously told of how his love for the late star ‘gave him the strength’ to publicly come out as gay (pictured in 2022)
When the heartwarming story resurfaced following Gavin’s death, fans shared their condolences and sent Jonathan their ‘love’
Gavin was known for a string of successful performances in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair, She Loves Me and Hello, Dolly! – performing opposite stars including Bette Midler and Jane Krakowski.
He died on Monday, Sept. 30, while receiving treatment for a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma – according to his partner, Alex Temple Ward.
Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that forms in connective tissues including bone, muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and more. Sarcomas most often appears in the arms and legs.
Creel also played Troy Winslow on the TV series American Horror Stories.
He is said to have been undergoing treatment at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering after being diagnosed with cancer in July.
However, he recently transferred receive to hospice care at his home.
Creel’s family has requested that gifts in Gavin’s memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.
What is epithelioid sarcoma?
Epithelioid sarcoma is an incredibly rare form of soft tissue cancer found most often under the skin of a finger, hand, forearm, lower leg or foot.
The slow-growing cancer starts as a painless, small, firm growth. It can also present as an ulcer which refuses to heal.
The disease is difficult to diagnose because it can be confused with other illnesses which have similar symptoms.
Epithelioid sarcoma is an incredibly rare form of soft tissue cancer
Patients who develop epithelioid sarcoma normally require surgery but other treatments might be required.
Medics can use MRI or CT scans to inspect the lump, though biopsies are also used.
A pathologist can determine whether the the sample is cancerous and if the tumour is aggressive.
If a sample is cancerous, a surgeon will often remove the cancer along with some of the surrounding healthy tissue. In some cases, the surgeon will amputate the affected limb.
Patients can also receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Source: Mayo Clinic
