He was the newest to join the roster of actors in the "Les Misérables" cast on Broadway. He was also the youngest and the first African-American in history to play the role of Jean Valjean. But on Friday night, Aug. 28, Kyle Jean-Baptiste fell to his untimely death.
According to reports, Jean-Baptiste died after falling from a fire escape in Brooklyn, New York.
The news of Jean-Baptiste's death was announced by Marc Thibodeau, spokesperson for the Broadway production of Les Misérables.
"The entire Les Miserables family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle," Thibodeau said of Jean-Baptiste. "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," he added.
The entire LES MISéRABLES family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle, a remarkable young...
Posted by Les Misérables Broadway on Saturday, August 29, 2015
Several hundred people converged at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, New York Monday to remember Jean-Baptiste, including some "Les Misérables" cast members.
According to Jean-Baptiste's friends, the Bethesda Fountain was one of his favorite places in the city. Mourners concluded the memorial by singing "Do You Hear The People Sing?" from the Les Misérables musical, The New York Times reports.
"He taught me how to love people," Brandyn Day, Jean-Baptiste's best friend said during his speech.
He also reminisced the days when Jean-Baptiste was only dreaming of playing the main role in the phenomenal musical, which had only come back to Broadway two years ago.
"When he found out 'Les Miz' was coming back to Broadway, he kept saying, 'I'm going to be in it,'" Day said.
In July, Kyle Jean-Baptiste made history by becoming the first Black actor to play the role of Jean Valjen. Before that, he played Constable and Courfreyrac.
"Today I go on as my dream role," Jean-Baptiste tweeted of playing the pivotal role. "No words. Guna remember this night."
Today I go on as my dream role. No words. Guna remember this night @BroadwayBlack @LesMizBway @understudies #blackvaljean @lesmisofficial
- Kyle Jean- Baptiste (@BaptisteKyle) July 23, 2015
Kyle Jean-Baptiste was 21 years old.
