Ben Lewis
Lewis in 2011
Born (1979-09-28)28 September 1979
London, England
Died 6 October 2025(2025-10-06) (aged 46)
Alma mater Newington College
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Occupations Actor, singer
Years active 2001–2023
Known for Love Never Dies
The Phantom of the Opera
Spouse Melle Stewart
Relatives Alexander Lewis (brother)

Ben Lewis (28 September 1979 – 6 October 2025) was an English-born Australian actor and baritenor singer. His most well-known role was as the Phantom of the Opera in the original Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies. In 2017 and 2018 he reprised the role in Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in the original West End theatre production. His other notable roles included Chad and Frank Farmer in the UK tours of Love Me Tender and The Bodyguard, as well as Larry in the 2018 West End revival of Company.

Early life

Lewis was born in London[1] to a theatrical family. His father, Michael Lewis, is an opera singer and his mother, Patricia Price, was also an opera singer and is retired as head of vocal studies and opera at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.[2] His brother, Alexander Lewis, is an opera singer and actor who completed three years as a young artist at New York's Metropolitan Opera.[3] During his childhood, his family went back and forth between England and the North Shore of Sydney, Australia.[1]

Education

After initially studying in England, Lewis graduated from Newington College in Sydney. He then undertook an arts degree at the University of Sydney but dropped out after three and a half years. He was introduced to the drama society while at the university and later enrolled at the Australian Theatre for Young People, where he was awarded a Lendlease scholarship to study voice at the Royal College of Music in London. Upon returning to Australia, he applied to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with his brother and both were successful.[1] It was during his time at WAAPA that he met his wife, actress Melle Stewart. Australian performer Tony Sheldon was a visiting director during his time at WAAPA, and Lewis later credited Sheldon with helping him through his student years.[1]

Personal life

Lewis was married to Australian actress Melle Stewart and was her primary care-giver after she had a stroke in 2021.[4][5]

In July 2025, it was publicly revealed that Lewis had been diagnosed with a fast-spreading bowel cancer in February 2024 that became incurable. His brother, Alexander, launched a GoFundMe campaign for him the same month.[6]

Lewis died from bowel cancer on 6 October 2025 at the age of 46. His friend Todd Woodbridge released a statement about his death on Instagram.[7]

Career

Theatre credits

Year Title Character Company
2005 The Windows Project - Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney
Odyssey The Malthouse/Black Swan Theatre Company[8]
2006 Urinetown Sydney Theatre Company
2006–2007 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Frank Lyric Theatre, Star City Casino, Sydney
2007 Spamalot Sir Dennis Galahad / Prince Herbert's Father / Black Knight Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne[9]
2009 A Little Night Music Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm Opera House, Sydney[10]
Metro Street Chris Barnes The Production Company
2010 A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander / Snug / Cobweb WildRumpus[11]
2011–2012 Love Never Dies The Phantom of the Opera Really Useful Group[12]
2013 Candide Governor / Vanderdendur Menier Chocolate Factory[13]
2014 Thérèse Raquin Laurent Finborough Theatre[14]
Forbidden Broadway various characters Menier Chocolate Factory and Vaudeville Theatre
2015 Devilish! Nick Brimstone Tristan Bates Theatre[15]
Love Me Tender Chad UK tour[16]
2016 Annie Get Your Gun Frank Butler Crubicle, Sheffield[17]
2017–2018 The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre, West End[18]
2018–2019 Company Larry Gielgud Theatre, West End[19]
2019–2020 The Bodyguard Frank Farmer UK, Ireland & Japan tour[20]

Film and television credits

Year Series/Film/Event Character Episode Company
2001 McLeod's Daughters Troy O'Rouke Who's a Big Girl Now? Channel Nine Australia
2011 Carols By Candlelight Himself - Nine Network
2012 Love Never Dies The Phantom / Mr. Y Universal Pictures
Side By Side by Sondheim Himself Theatre Royal
2013 Doctors Ned Bick Bleeding Hearts BBC 1
2016 Cyanide and Happiness Shorts Guard The Execution YouTube
2020 EastEnders Iain 6150 BBC 1

Awards and nominations

In 2012, Lewis received a nomination for a Helpmann Award and won a Judith Johnson Award for Best Actor in Leading Role in a Musical at the 2012 Sydney Theatre Awards for his role as the Phantom in Love Never Dies.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Behind the Phantom Mask: Meet Ben Lewis". Stage Whispers. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ^ "LinkedIn Profile - Patricia Price". au.linkedin.com/home.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ "Love Never Dies - BARITONE Ben Lewis is on a fast-track to stardom with the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, writes Simon Plant". Phantomloveneverdies.tumblr.com. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Madison E. (6 October 2025). "West End Phantom of the Opera Star Ben Lewis Dead at 46: 'He Was One of the Great Humans'". People. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^ Hall, Margaret (6 October 2025). "WLove Never Dies Star Ben Lewis Has Died at 46". People. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  6. ^ Rosky, Nicole "GoFundMe Launched to Support PHANTOM Veteran Ben Lewis Following Cancer Diagnosis", BroadwayWorld, 8 July 2025.
  7. ^ Lauren Attard (6 October 2025). "'Way too young': Todd Woodbridge pens heartfelt tribute after death of close friend and musical theatre performer Ben Lewis". 9Now.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ "Spamalot announces Australian cast". boneaubryanbrown.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2005.
  9. ^ "The Odyssey". boneaubryanbrown.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  10. ^ Vito Mattarelli "A Little Night Music, Opera Australia". ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  11. ^ Emma Brown "A Midsummer Night's Dream at Cenntenial Park". weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  12. ^ Adam Hetrick "Cast Complete for Revamped Love Never Dies in Australia; Performances Begin May 21". playbill.com. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  13. ^ Michael Coveney "Candide". whatsonstage.com. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Thérése Raquin". finboroughtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  15. ^ "A new musical comedy by BB Cooper and Chris Burgess". twitter.com. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  16. ^ West End Wilma "Love Me Tender UK Tour Cast announced". westendwilma.com. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  17. ^ Stagefaves "Ben Lewis & Nicolas Colicos join Anna-Jane Casey in Annie Get Your Gun". stagefaves.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Official London Theatre - Theatre Tickets, News & Guides". Official London Theatre.
  19. ^ "Ben Lewis | Company Musical | From 26 September". Company Musical. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  20. ^ Admin (17 October 2019). "Cast Changes Announced for The Bodyguard". London Theatre 1. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  21. ^ Wood, Alex; Gordon, David (6 October 2025). "Ben Lewis, Star of Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies, Passes Away at 46". TheaterMania. Retrieved 7 October 2025.