The theater world is mourning.

Ben Lewis, the West End star best known for his roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, has died.

The Australian actor passed away at 46, after a battle with bowel cancer.

“One of the greats”

The sad news was shared on Instagram on Monday, October 6, by his friend and Australian TV host Todd Woodbridge, who described Lewis as “one of the greats.”

“Ben was a star on stage as Phantom…in Phantom of the Opera on the West End,” Woodbridge wrote. “More importantly he was one of the great humans, funny, caring, and a wonderful mentor to all of the people he work[ed] with.”

Woodbridge reminisced about the times they spent together, saying, “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, “Sending our love to all the family tonight.”

Diagnosed in 2024

Lewis was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2024, which was declared incurable, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support his family.

After undergoing major surgery to remove the primary tumor, he started an intensive course of chemotherapy. Despite his determination and resilience, the cancer was aggressive and resistant to the treatment.

In April, scans showed tumors had spread to his liver, lungs, and pelvis — too numerous to be removed through surgery or treated with radiation.

Born into a family of classically-trained opera singers in London, Ben studied vocal performance at London’s Royal College of Music and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. His early career included stage appearances in Sydney in Urinetown, A Little Night Music, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

In 2011, Lewis starred in the original Australian production of Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, and reprised the iconic Phantom role in London’s West End in 2017 and 2018.

He won the Judith Johnson Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards for Love Never Dies, with the production later filmed by Universal.

Primary caregiver for his wife

What make Ben’s story even more heartbreaking is that he was also the primary caregiver for his beloved wife, Australian actress Melle Stewart. In 2021, at just 40 years old, Melle suffered a life-changing stroke caused by the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

This devastating event led to Melle spending nearly nine months in the hospital. From that day on, Ben stayed by Melle’s side every step of the way as she continued her long rehabilitation journey.

Lewis is survived by his wife and his extended family. Ben Lewis’s performances on the West End and in Australia left a lasting mark on audiences and colleagues alike.