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Rob Guest
Musical star Rob Guest died overnight in Melbourne after
suffering a massive stroke.
Guest, 57, who had been starring in the musical Wicked, was
admitted to Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital on Tuesday
night, a spokeswoman for the production said.
He died peacefully in the hospital early this morning.
A hospital spokesperson told the Melbourne Herald Sun
newspaper the family wanted the public to know he was
surrounded by relatives and friends when he died.
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 awarded an OBE for his services to the New Zealand
entertainment industry in 1994.
Guest was the world's longest serving Phantom having played
the role a record 2289 performances over seven years in front
of Australian and New Zealand audiences.
He had been at home with his partner Kellie Dickerson,
Wicked's musical director, when he collapsed about 10pm on
Tuesday, the Melbourne Age reported.
Rob Guest dies
Our family is devestated by the news that Rob has passed away. We have been privileged to have known him and his new Zealand family for many years. In 1999 our then 7-year-old daughter appeared with Rob in the Auckland season of Les Miserables at the Aotea Centre. Our daughter and Rob's neice were in the same class at school, and we all became firm friends. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Guest family at this time.