‘Phantom of the Opera’ star Ben Lewis dead at 46
Australian actor Ben Lewis has died aged 46 following a battle with cancer.
His death was confirmed by fellow actor Todd Winbridge on Instagram. He wrote, “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! Ben was a star on stage as Phantom in Love Never Dies and In Phantom of the Opera on the West End.”
Winbridge continued, “More importantly he was one of the great humans, funny, caring and a wonderful mentor to all of the people he work with…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.”
He concluded by “sending our love to all the family tonight” following the passing of Lewis. The actor was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in February 2024.
Lewis began making a name for himself in theatre productions in Sydney in the 2000s, which led to him being cast as The Phantom of the Opera in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original Australian production of Love Never Dies in 2011.
His successful run in Love Never Dies was the start of a fruitful partnership with Webber’s productions, and in 2017, Lewis starred in the West End in The Phantom of the Opera.
Lloyd Webber has honoured Lewis in an emotional tribute, recalling, “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. His triumph in the role played a huge part in The Phantom of the Opera’s continuing London run.”
The composer heartbreakingly added, “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 is survived by his wife, Melle Stewart.
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