Kyle Jean-Baptiste, Who Made History in Broadway's Les Misérables, Dies at 21

Kyle Jean-Baptiste has died at the age of 21.

Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the young actor who made history July 23 when he became the first African-American to play the role of Jean Valjean in Broadway's Les Misérables, died August 28 after falling from a fire escape. Jean-Baptiste was 21 years old.

"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," the production said in a statement. "We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time."

Jean-Baptiste was also the youngest actor to have performed as Jean Valjean on Broadway. An understudy with the production since graduating from Baldwin Wallace University, he regularly played the characters Courfeyrac and Constable when he was not taking on the show's leading role. He had gone on several times throughout the summer of 2015, most recently on August 27. He was scheduled to depart the company on September 6.

---theatermania