Sydney-based Australian actor and singer Ben Lewis, renowned for his commanding performances in The Phantom of the Opera on London’s West End and in Love Never Dies, has died in Sydney after a battle with bowel cancer.
He was 46.
Born in London on September 28, 1979, Lewis was raised by a family of operatic tradition. His mother and father were both professional opera singers, which instilled in him the early love of music and performance. Having received voice training at the Royal College of Music in London, he then went on to further training at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he honed the singing and acting skills that would form his future stage career.
Lewis began performing in the early 2000s and was soon a familiar household name on Australian theatre. He starred in several award-winning stage productions like Urinetown, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and A Little Night Music. His charm, vocal range, and emotional depth made him an elite performer irrespective of genre, whether comedy or traditional musical theater.
His big break came in 2011, when he starred in the premiere Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, the musical sequel to worldwide phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera. Lewis’s portrayal of the Phantom earned him widespread praise for bringing intensity and humanity to the character. His powerful vocals and understated performance left audiences and critics stunned, making him one of Australia’s leading musical theatre performers.
Lewis was, in 2017, asked to reprise the same legendary role in the West End version of The Phantom of the Opera. His run, which continued into 2018, was immensely praised, solidifying firmly his global standing. Beyond the Phantom, Lewis’s remarkable CV included stints in UK tours of Love Me Tender and The Bodyguard, and the 2018 West End revival of Company.
Unhappily, Lewis was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2024, which he battled in private while still being supported by colleagues and public alike both in the Australian and UK theatre communities. His passing is an enormous loss to the world theatre community, where he was valued for his ability, professionalism, and humanity.
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Lewis is survived by his wife, Australian actress Melle Stewart, who has also experienced a major battle with her health. Stewart made international news in 2021 when she had a life-altering stroke, one that she claimed was a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. After her experience, Stewart also publicly announced that she remained in favor of vaccination, stating, “Despite the issues I’ve had with the AstraZeneca vaccine, I am pleased to report that I have since received several doses of the Pfizer vaccine and I am a strong advocate for vaccination.”
Ben Lewis’s death has received an avalanche of tributes from the global theatre community. He has been remembered as a “true gentleman of the stage,” whose stage performances were the epitome of the drama and passion of musical theatre in its highest form.
Lewis’s legacy will continue through his unforgettable portrayals and the inspiration that he provided to countless performers and fans worldwide.
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