Theatre Legend Rob Guest dies

Australian theatre veteran Rob Guest has died at the age of 57 after suffering a massive stroke at his Melbourne home on Tuesday night.

Guest collapsed at around 10pm on Tuesday while working on his computer and was rushed to hospital, where he remained on life support until his death late on Wednesday evening.

The theatrical mainstay had been playing the Wizard in the record-breaking Australian production of Wicked at the Regent Theatre, and showed no signs of illness when he appeared in the show on Sunday night.

Guest's partner, Kellie Dickerson, is Wicked's musical director.Awarded an OBE for his services to the New Zealand Entertainment Industry, Guest began his career in the New Zealand pop charts. He performed in almost 40 musicals and TV productions in New Zealand, Asia and America and came to Australia to audition for Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables. He took over the lead role of Jean Valjean and performed it as he toured Australia and New Zealand for the next three and a half years. In 1995, he went to London at Cameron Mackintosh’s invitation to appear in the 10th Anniversary production of Les Misérables.

In 1992 he was cast as The Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera and performed the role for a record 2,289 performances over seven years.

"Rob Guest is one of Australian music theatre’s biggest stars: there have been few bigger in our lifetime," Wicked co-producer John Frost said.

Guest's role in Wicked was seen as a comeback of sorts. He had been missing from the commercial musical arena for some time, but was extremely passionate about the show and its anticipated long season in Melbourne.

But no matter how big Wicked is to become, Guest will always be known as The Phantom, with his record-breaking run something to behold. It is a tenure that still holds respect across suburban Australia, and the theatre industry itself.

Rodney Dobson played the Wizard in both Wednesday performances of Wicked and it is unclear whether or not the show will go ahead tonight.

The opening night performance of The Production Company's Mame was dedicated to Guest on Wednesday night, with many of his close friends - including leading lady Rhonda Burchmore - part of the cast.

Aussietheatre.com