Tragedy Strikes Australian Showbiz: Beloved Musical Theatre Star Ben Lewis Dies at 46 After Brave Bowel Cancer Battle
- Tributes pour in for the talented performer, who wowed audiences in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies
- Ben’s wife, Home and Away actress Melle Stewart, had suffered a stroke during the pandemic, and he had been her rock throughout her recovery
- The star’s death was confirmed by his close friend, Tipping Point host Todd Woodbridge, who remembered Ben as a ‘great human, funny, caring and a wonderful mentor’
Ben Lewis, the Australian musical theatre star who captivated audiences with his breathtaking performances, has tragically passed away at the age of 46 after a two-year battle with bowel cancer. The news has sent shockwaves through the showbiz community, with tributes pouring in for the talented performer.
Ben’s death was confirmed by his close friend, Tipping Point host Todd Woodbridge, who took to social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to the star. ‘Today we lost Ben Lewis, one of my family’s dearest friends,’ Todd began. ‘Way too young, the Australian Musical Theatre family also lost one of the greats.’
Todd went on to describe Ben as a ‘star on stage as Phantom on 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 also shared cherished memories of their time together, including holidays in Scotland and visits to the dressing rooms of Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.
Ben’s wife, Home and Away actress Melle Stewart, had suffered a stroke during the pandemic, and he had been her rock throughout her recovery. The couple met while studying at WAAPA, and Ben had been a constant source of support for Melle as she battled to regain her health.
Ben’s career was marked by a string of critically acclaimed performances, including his role as the Phantom in Love Never Dies, for which he won a Judith Johnson Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2012 Sydney Theatre Awards. He also appeared in productions of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Spamalot, and The Bodyguard.
Despite his brave battle with bowel cancer, Ben’s health had deteriorated in recent months. A GoFundMe appeal had been set up to support his treatment, and the star had undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. However, sadly, he was not able to make a full recovery.
Ben’s passing has left the showbiz community in mourning, with many of his friends and colleagues taking to social media to pay tribute to the talented performer. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his legacy will live on through his incredible body of work.