Kyle Jean-Baptiste | 'Les Miserables' actor, 21

Kyle Jean-Baptiste, 21, the first African American and youngest person to ever play the role of Jean Valjean in

Les Miserables

on Broadway, died Friday after falling from a fire escape at his mother's house, according to a show spokesman.

He died after the show's evening performance at the Imperial Theatre in New York, said representative Marc Thibodeau.

The actor was an ensemble member of the company and an understudy for Valjean, going onstage as the ex-convict in a history-making appearance July 23. His last performance in the role was Thursday.

Mr. Jean-Baptiste was born in New York and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.

After making stage history, he told Playbill: "I did not immediately think of it as making history. This was my dream since I was a little boy. This incredible team of creatives presented an opportunity to play a part I have dreamed of playing since I was introduced to theater, and I am forever grateful. I felt a huge amount of responsibility to do right by them and to honor this iconic material."

In one of his last tweets, sent Tuesday, Mr. Jean-Baptiste showed gratitude for his friends and fans: "I thank everyone who supported me and still does. I will never forget this experience. Onwards and upwards. Nothing but love."

- AP