Broadway Actor Kyle Jean-Baptiste Dies After Falling From Brooklyn Fire Escape

Aug. 30, 2015, 10:30 a.m.

Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African-American actor to play Jean Valjean in 'Les Misérables' on Broadway, died Saturday after falling from a fire escape in Brooklyn. He was 21.

via Jean-Baptiste's Twitter

<a href="https://twitter.com/BaptisteKyle/status/627551862724665345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">via Jean-Baptiste's Twitter</a>

Broadway actor Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African-American actor to play Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway, died Saturday after falling from a fire escape in Brooklyn. He was 21.

Police say Jean-Baptiste fell from the fourth-floor fire escape of an apartment on Greene Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant early Saturday morning. According to the Times, he was sitting on the fire escape with a 23-year-old female friend—when he stood up, he accidentally slipped and fell backward to the street below. Broadway World says the fire escape was at his mother's apartment.

Jean-Baptiste played the roles of the Constable and Courfeyrac in the musical, and was the understudy for the lead role of Jean Valjean. He made his debut as #blackValjean on July 23rd, when leading man Ramin Karimloo was on vacation; he also became the youngest actor to play the role on Broadway. "Thank you for all the love! Last night was one of the best nights of my life," he said the day after his debut.

"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 team said in a post on Facebook. "We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time."

Earlier this month, Jean-Baptiste and Hamilton writer/star Lin-Manuel Miranda performed a number from the musical outside the Richard Rodgers Theater for Miranda's musical video series, #Ham4Ham.

In a series of tweets last week, Jean-Baptiste announced his final performances as Valjean: "Thursday is my last Valjean on broadway. The ability to play this part on Broadway has been life changing. I'm so greatful...I thank everyone who supported me and still does. I will never forget this experience. Onwards and upwards ;). Nothing but love."