Theatre star Rob Guest has died in Melbourne after suffering a massive stroke.
The 57-year-old, who had been starring in the musical Wicked, was admitted to Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital last night.
Friend and entertainer Ray Columbus said Guest was at the peak of the trade in musical theatre and would be sorely missed.
Columbus, who also suffered a stroke earlier this year which nearly killed him, said Guest would have been under a lot of pressure in his singing career.
"Being at the top of the tree in musical theatre put a great deal of pressure on him. He would have had to deliver each day."
A hospital spokesperson said Guest died peacefully surrounded by relatives and friends.
Guest was born in Britain but enjoyed fame as a pop star in New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s and spent a decade in Las Vegas.
His stage musical career took him to Australia where he starred in Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera.
He was the world's longest serving Phantom, having played the role a record 2289 times in performances over seven years.
More recently he played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Guest was awarded an OBE for his services to the New Zealand entertainment industry.
Columbus said musical theatre was a tough business and with a top performer like Guest, "the whole show hangs on you".
He said Guest was very devoted to his craft.
"He was a lovely guy, very professional, a fine singer and a great actor.
"It will be a great loss. You can't replace someone with his experience and his professionalism and his knowledge."
Columbus said Guest did not have appear to have health issues.
"It must have been a massive, one-off (stroke)."
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