Ben Lewis: Australian musical theatre star dies aged 46 from bowel cancer

Tributes are flowing for Australian musical theatre star Ben Lewis, who died on Monday after a long battle with bowel cancer.

Tragically, it came less than three years after Lewis had to step back from the limelight to help his Home and Away actress wife who suffered a stroke following a COVID jab.

The 46-year-old was renowned for his role as the Phantom in both The Phantom of the Opera and the sequel Love Never Dies.

Lewis made his debut as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Australian adaptation of Love Never Dies in 2011, before going on to play the character in the original West End production of The Phantom of the Opera in 2017 and 2018.

Lewis was a regular on stage and also appeared on TV before his career had to take a back seat to the health crises affecting first his wife and then himself.

The star’s other stage credits include being in the original cast of the stage version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Spamalot and The Bodyguard.

Lewis was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024.

In a GoFundMe appeal, his brother Alexander revealed Lewis had experienced no symptoms before being diagnosed but “by the time it was discovered, the cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes and liver”.

At the time Lewis was the primary carer for his wife Melle Stewart who had a life-threatening stroke in 2021 after suffering a blood clot following an AstraZeneca COVID vaccination.

He was at Stewart’s side throughout a gruelling nine month stay in hospital and rehabilitation that helped her regain her independence.

Lewis’ passing has spurred a flood of tributes from friends and colleagues across the world, including from composer and global musical theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and family. Ben Lewis will be sorely missed by his many friends in theatre all over the world.”

Australian game show host and close friend Todd Woodbridge, on Monday revealed on social media that Lewis had died.

“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!,” the Tipping Point host 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…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… and our last pic together in late June at our home…sending our love to all the family tonight..”

Playbill, a magazine for theatregoers, posted on social media, “Playbill is saddened to report that Australian baritenor Ben Lewis, star of the filmed production of Love Never Dies, has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans.”

Eddie Perfect responded to the Playbill post, writing, ”Ben was such a terrific human and artist- dedicated, kind, unbelievably talented and hard working. It’s a staggering loss.”

Musical theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who is responsible for producing stage hits including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable and Miss Saigon, mourned the loss of the performer.

“It is a tremendous shock to hear the tragic news … Ben was a towering presence and a great company leader when he played the title role of the Phantom in his native Australia and then again at His Majesty’s Theatre in London,” he said.

Lewis was born in London into a musical family. Dad Michael Lewis and mum Patricia Price, were opera singers. Ms Price is the retired head of vocal studies and opera at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Lewis graduated from Sydney University with an arts degree, before gaining a scholarship to WAAPA where he met Stewart.