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West End actor Ben Lewis, known for appearing in the Opera Phantom, has passed away from intestinal cancer. He was 46 years old.
Lewis’ death was announced on Instagram on Monday, October 6th by his friend and Australian television host Todd Woodbridge. He described Lewis as “one of the greats.”
“Ben was a star on stage as a Phantom… in the West End opera phantom,” Woodbridge wrote. “More importantly, he was one of the great people, he was an interesting and caring person, and a great mentor to all the people (editors) he worked for.”
Woodbridge and Lewis shared “many favorite memories of their Scotland holidays until they visited the theatre dressing room under Her in London and spent time at Wimbledon.”
The TV host concluded his post by saying that he is “sending our love to all our families tonight.”
Lewis was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2024 and the disease was considered incurable according to the GoFundMe account, which was established to benefit Lewis’ family.
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Lewis was born into a family of classically trained opera singers in London, Deadline reports. His parents were singers Michael Lewis and Patricia Price, who studied vocal performances at the Royal College of Music in London and the Academy of Performing Arts in Western Australia. In the 2000s, Lewis appeared on stage in Little Night Music, Queen of the Desert, and Sydney in Urintown, Priscilla.
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In 2011, Lewis starred in the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Australia’s Production of Love Never Die, a sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber of the Opera Phantom. In 2017 and 2018, Lewis recreated the role of a famous character in the opera phantom in London’s West End.
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In 2012, Lewis received the Judith Johnson Award at the 2012 Sydney Theatre Awards for his leading role in the Per Playbill musicals. According to the outlet, the production was filmed by Universal.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Australian actress Merule Stewart, and his extended family.
