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Broadway's First Black Jean ValJean Dies At 21

Actor Kyle Jean-Baptiste, who made history earlier this summer as the first black actor — and youngest person — to play the lead character in Les Miserables on Broadway, died Saturday. He was 21.

A spokesman for the production said that Jean-Baptiste died after an accident: he fell from a fire escape in Brooklyn early Saturday morning.

Jean-Baptiste was an ensemble member of the musical's cast and an understudy for the role of Jean Valjean. He made his debut in that role on July 23.

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He played Jean Valjean several times since — most recently, this Thursday.

"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.

Numerous Broadway luminaries mourned Jean-Baptiste on Twitter Saturday. Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the hit musical Hamilton, remembered Jean-Baptiste by posting a video of the two singing together a few weeks ago.

"Here he is," Miranda wrote. "What a light."

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