Broadway performer Bret Hanna-Shuford, known for roles in Wicked, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, has died at the age of 46. The news was announced by his husband Stephen Hanna-Shuford on social media, stating that Bret passed away peacefully surrounded by family in the early hours of Saturday, January 3.
Hanna-Shuford was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma last summer – rare conditions that cause the immune system to attack healthy tissue. He had been hospitalised for months and shared updates with his 257,000 followers on the account Broadway Husband.
Born in Beaumont, Texas in 1979, Hanna-Shuford graduated from Wagner College in 2001 and performed on Disney Cruise Line before appearing in Broadway and touring productions. His credits also include Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, South Pacific at Lincoln Center, and television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Only Murders in the Building.
He married Stephen in 2011, and they welcomed their son Maverick in 2022. A GoFundMe campaign launched in August raised funds for medical costs, with contributions from high-profile Broadway stars. Hanna-Shuford is survived by his husband, son, parents Preston and Deanna, and brothers Todd, Eric and Bart.
