West End star Ben Lewis, best known for his acclaimed turn in The Phantom of the Opera, has died aged 46.
The Australian performer’s death was confirmed by his close friend, TV presenter Todd Woodbridge, who described him as “one of the great humans” and a “wonderful mentor” to those he worked with.
“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!” Woodbridge wrote.
“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 work with.”
He shared a series of photos of the pair, recalling “so many fond memories of holidays together in Scotland, visiting the dressing rooms of Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, and times spent at Wimbledon,” adding: “Sending our love to all the family tonight.”
Lewis found international fame playing the title role in Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, in its 2011 Australian premiere.
His performance earned widespread acclaim and led to his casting as the Phantom in the original West End production in 2017.
In a tribute, Lloyd Webber said: “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 added that Lewis’s death struck a personal chord, revealing: “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 2024.
A GoFundMe page set up to support his family explained that the actor had shown no symptoms prior to his diagnosis, but the cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes and liver by the time it was discovered.
“Despite his strength and determination, the cancer proved to be quite aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy drugs,” the fundraiser read. “Liver surgery followed, and more chemotherapy, but sadly the cancer continued to spread.”
Born in London to classically trained opera singers Michael Lewis and Patricia Price, Lewis studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and later at London’s Royal College of Music.
His stage career spanned productions including Urinetown, A Little Night Music, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Annie Get Your Gun, Company and The Bodyguard.
He also made TV appearances in McLeod’s Daughters, Doctors and EastEnders.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Australian actress Melle Stewart, whom he supported after she suffered a life-altering stroke in 2021.
