"Les Miserables" star Kyle Jean-Baptiste has died after a fall from a fire escape. He was 21.
Jean-Baptiste fell after his performance on August 28 at the Imperial Theatre, said representative Marc Thibodeau.
He was the youngest and only African-American actor to play Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" on Broadway, reported CNN online.
The actor had just performed on stage as Valjean, marking his Broadway debut. He was an understudy for Valjean and, when he wasn't going on in the role, had appeared as Constable and Courfeyrac.
The production company behind "Les Miserables" issued a public statement after the news broke.
"The entire Les Miserables 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."
Fellow actors too took to social media to pay tribute to the star.
"Shocked and saddened to have lost one of Broadway's youngest treasures," tweeted Tony Award-nominee Joshua Henry.
Teal Wicks, starring in "Finding Neverland", said she was "devastated" and he was "a new friend and a shining star".
Ansel Elgort said, "I played opposite Kyle Jean-Baptiste in Hairspray in high school at Laguardia. What I remember most above his talent was his warmth.
