"I learned everything from him," the Tony Award-nominated 'Ragtime' star says
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NEED TO KNOW
- Caissie Levy reflects on her late friend Gavin Creel, who was her best friend and sang at her wedding
- Levy credits her time in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair as a transformative experience in her career
- She finds comfort in Creel’s music and feels his presence as she celebrates her first Tony Award nomination for Ragtime
Even as she celebrates a milestone moment in her career, Caissie Levy says one of the people she'd most like to share it with is never far from her mind.
The Tony nominee, who earned her first Tony Award nomination for her performance as Mother in Lincoln Center Theater's acclaimed revival of Ragtime, tells PEOPLE that she still feels the presence of her late friend and former costar, Gavin Creel.
"Oh yeah. I feel Gavin with me all the time," Levy says. "I talk to him."
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Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Levy and Creel became close while starring together in Broadway's 2009 revival of Hair, a production that would prove transformative for both the actress
"Hair meant everything to me," she says. "It's still the top experience of my career."
The revival, directed by Diane Paulus, marked several major milestones for the actress, including her first cast album, her first Tony Awards performance and her first time being part of a Tony-winning musical. Just as importantly, it introduced her to friendships that have lasted nearly two decades.
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Among them was Creel, who died in September 2024 at age 48 amid treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer called sarcoma.
"He sang me down the aisle at our wedding," Levy says. "He was my best friend."
Reflecting on the show's legacy, Levy says she's still connected with many of her former castmates, including Will Swenson, Allison Case, Kacie Sheik, Andrew Kober, Theo Stockman and more.
"We're still on a group text chain all these years later," Levy shares. "Theo just came to see Hair the other day."
"That show meant so much to all of us," she continues. "We all were just kind of stepping into our own as artists and people and grownups. And the activism we got to do offstage together and then embody onstage made a massive impact on all of us."
"It's stood the test of time," she adds. "It will just forever be the most special time to look back on."
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
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While the loss of Creel remains painful, Levy says her relationship with his memory has evolved over time.
"When he passed at first, of course, I was heartbroken. And it hurt to even think about. Things like listening to his music and listening to voice memos from him, that was something I avoided," she remembers.
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Now, however, those reminders bring comfort.
"I listen to his music warming up for Ragtime," Levy says. "I take great comfort in it."
She continues, "I just feel like he's with me all the time and I know he would be beyond proud of me right now."
Credit: Matthew Murphy
As Levy experiences a career milestone many Broadway fans believe has been years in the making, she says the lessons she learned from Creel remain a guiding force.
"I learned so much from him," she says. "I learned everything from him."
"So yeah," Levy adds with a smile. "He's with me forever."
Tickets to Ragtime are on sale now. The 2026 Tony Awards will take place at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. The show will be broadcast live to both coasts on CBS (beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT), and will stream on Paramount+.
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