West End star Ben Lewis, who was best known for starring in The Phantom of the Opera, has died aged 46.
The Australian actor’s death was announced overnight by his friend and TV host Todd Woodbridge, who said Lewis was ‘one of the great humans’.
‘Today we lost Ben Lewis one my families dearest friends way to young, and the Australian Musical Theatre family also lost one of the greats!’ he began.
‘Ben was a star on stage as Phantom in Love Never Dies and In Phantom of the Opera on the West End…more importantly he was one of the great humans, funny, caring and a wonderful mentor to all of the people he worked with.’
He went on to share that they’d shared ‘so many fond memories of holidays together in Scotland, visiting the dressing rooms of Her Majesty’s Theatre in London to times spent at Wimbledon.’
Posting a series of photos of Lewis, Woodbridge also shared ‘our last pic together in late June at our home’.
Concluding his post, he wrote: ‘Sending our love to all the family tonight.’
In 2011, Lewis starred in the original Australian production of Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.
Then, in 2017 and 2018, he reprised the role of the titular character in The Phantom of the Opera on London’s West End.
After the news of his death was shared publicly, Lloyd Webber posted a heartfelt tribute to the performer.
‘I first met Ben when he premiered the marvellous Australian production of Love Never Dies in which he played the Phantom. After his huge personal success in the role, he came to London to play Phantom in the original show,’ he explained.
‘His triumph in the role played a huge part in The Phantom of the Opera’s continuing London run.’
The composer added that he felt a ‘personal connection with Ben’s horrible cause of death’.
‘My own son Nick died of stomach and bowel cancer. Had he lived he would have been the same age as Ben when he so tragically died. These dreadful stomach and bowel cancers are increasingly afflicting young men who are ever more often being taken from us so cruelly, so early.’
Lewis had been diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in February last year, with a GoFundMe account set up to assist his family.
It had previously explained that prior to his diagnosis, Lewis had ‘no symptoms’.
‘But, by the time it was discovered, the cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes and liver. Following major surgery to remove the primary tumour, he began intensive chemotherapy treatment,’ it detailed.
‘Despite his strength and determination, the cancer has proved to be quite aggressive and resistant to the chemotherapy drugs. Liver surgery followed and more chemotherapy but sadly the cancer has continued to spread.’
As per Deadline, the actor had been born into a family of classically-trained opera singers from London – Michael Lewis and Patricia Price.
After studying at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and vocal performance at London’s Royal College of Music, in the early 2000s he appeared in productions including Urinetown, A Little Night Music, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in Sydney.
During his career, Lewis also appeared in productions including Love Me Tender, Annie Get Your Gun, Company, and The Bodyguard in London.
He also appeared on episodes of TV shows McLeod’s Daughters, Doctors and EastEnders.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Australian actress Melle Stewart. He had been her primary caregiver after she suffered a stroke in 2021.
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