He has performed in many concerts in the United States and abroad, including a concert production of Sondheim’s Follies in 1985 at Lincoln Center that was released on DVD.

Other featured and leading roles on the stage followed. Often considered a “tall, dark and handsome” leading man, McGillin originated the role of John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Imperial Theatre; for his performance he was nominated for a 1986 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He earned a second Tony nomination in 1988 for his portrayal of Billy Crocker in the Broadway revival of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes.

McGillin starred in the award-winning West End 1995 production of Mack & Mabel and sings on the cast album recording. He received praise as Molina in the Kander and Ebb musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, replacing Brent Carver in 1994.

McGillin holds the record for the most performances by an actor in the title role of the musical The Phantom of the Opera (official title: “World’s Longest Running Phantom”), joining the Broadway cast in 1999. He was part of the musical when it became the longest-running production in Broadway history on January 9, 2006, and its twenty-first anniversary on January 26, 2009. McGillin played his last performance in the role on July 25, 2009, marking his 2,544th show.

McGillin originated a leading role in the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Bounce at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, and the Kennedy Center in 2003. He was featured in the Encores! production of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 in 1999.

He appeared in the Irish Repertory Theatre (New York City) concert, A Child’s Christmas in Wales in Concert in December 2011.

McGillin married longtime partner Richard Samson in September 2013; he had been married and divorced prior to this. McGillin has two sons, Brian and Christopher.