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Kyle Jean-Baptiste, Broadway's first black Jean Valjean, dies after fall Kyle Jean-Baptiste, Broadway's first black Jean Valjean, dies after fall
(35 minutes later)
Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African American and youngest person ever to play the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway has died after falling from a fire escape, according to a show spokesman. He was 21. Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African American and youngest actor to play the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway, has died after falling from a fire escape, according to a show spokesman for the show.
Jean-Baptiste died on Friday night following the show’s evening performance at the Imperial theatre, said representative Marc Thibodeau, who called it a tragic accident. Jean-Baptiste, 21, died on Friday night following an evening performance at the Imperial theatre, said Marc Thibodeau, who called it a tragic accident.
“The entire Les Misérables family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle, a remarkable young talent and tremendous person who made magic – and history – in his Broadway debut. We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time,” a statement from the production reads.“The entire Les Misérables family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle, a remarkable young talent and tremendous person who made magic – and history – in his Broadway debut. We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time,” a statement from the production reads.
The actor was an ensemble member of the company and an understudy for Valjean, going onstage as the ex-convict in a history-making appearance on 23 July. His last performance in the role was on Thursday.The actor was an ensemble member of the company and an understudy for Valjean, going onstage as the ex-convict in a history-making appearance on 23 July. His last performance in the role was on Thursday.
The Broadway community took to Twitter on Saturday to mourn the loss of a young talent: The Broadway community mourned the loss of a young talent on Twitter:
Shocked and saddened to have lost one of Broadway's youngest treasures.. #kyleJeanBaptiste https://t.co/lmksptjLtxShocked and saddened to have lost one of Broadway's youngest treasures.. #kyleJeanBaptiste https://t.co/lmksptjLtx
This incredible young man was just getting started. Such a pure voice. Heartbreaking. Sending love 2 family and cast https://t.co/ruwZOh3HRFThis incredible young man was just getting started. Such a pure voice. Heartbreaking. Sending love 2 family and cast https://t.co/ruwZOh3HRF
So devastating...my heart goes out to all who knew and loved this incredibly talented young man. https://t.co/7OZ1J8CHbLSo devastating...my heart goes out to all who knew and loved this incredibly talented young man. https://t.co/7OZ1J8CHbL
A spokeswoman for the New York police department said investigators believed Jean-Baptiste’s death was accidental. According to police, Jean-Baptiste was sitting on a fourth-floor fire escape of an apartment in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn on Friday night when he stood up, slipped and then fell backwards to the ground. A spokeswoman for the New York police department said investigators believed Jean-Baptiste’s death was accidental. According to police, the actor was sitting on a fourth-floor fire escape of an apartment in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn on Friday night when he stood up, slipped and then fell backwards to the ground.
The city’s medical examiner will determine his official cause of death, police said. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Saturday.The city’s medical examiner will determine his official cause of death, police said. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Saturday.
Jean-Baptiste was born in New York and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University. The 6’2” tenor had recently landed two musical roles at Playhouse Square in Cleveland – in Murder Ballad and Love Story. He also played Enjolras last year in a production of Les Misérables at the Idaho Shakespeare festival. Jean-Baptiste was born in New York and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University. The 6ft 2ins tenor had recently landed two musical roles – Murder Ballad and Love Story – at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. He also played Enjolras last year in a production of Les Misérables at the Idaho Shakespeare festival.
After making stage history as the first black Valjean, he told Playbill: “I did not immediately think of it as making history. This was my dream since I was a little boy. This incredible team of creatives presented an opportunity to play a part I have dreamed of playing since I was introduced to theatre, and I am forever grateful. I felt a huge amount of responsibility to do right by them and to honour this iconic material.”After making stage history as the first black Valjean, he told Playbill: “I did not immediately think of it as making history. This was my dream since I was a little boy. This incredible team of creatives presented an opportunity to play a part I have dreamed of playing since I was introduced to theatre, and I am forever grateful. I felt a huge amount of responsibility to do right by them and to honour this iconic material.”
In one of his last tweets, sent Tuesday, Jean-Baptiste showed gratitude for his friends and fans: In one of his last tweets, sent on Tuesday, Jean-Baptiste showed gratitude for his friends and fans:
I thank everyone who supported me and still does. I will never forget this experience. Onwards and upwards ;). Nothing but love @LesMizBwayI thank everyone who supported me and still does. I will never forget this experience. Onwards and upwards ;). Nothing but love @LesMizBway
The current Les Misérables on Broadway is the second revival of the hit show. It debuted in 1987 with Colm Wilkinson in the role of Valjean and lasted until 2003. A revival in 2006 lasted just a few years and the latest reimagined version landed on Broadway last year. In a few days, British opera star Alfie Boe is due to take over Valjean. The current Les Misérables on Broadway is the second revival of the hit show. It debuted in 1987 with Colm Wilkinson in the role of Valjean and lasted until 2003. A revival in 2006 lasted just a few years and the latest version opened on Broadway last year. British opera star Alfie Boe is due to take over the part of Valjean next week.