Prominent Australian musical theatre actor, Michael Falzon, passed away overnight following a battle with a rare type of cancer. He was 48.
Falzon is perhaps best remembered for originating the lead role in the Australian production of We Will Rock You. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Falzon was hand-picked for the role in the Queen jukebox musical by Ben Elton and members of the band themselves.
Falzon boasted an impressive CV, performing professionally in The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, War of the Worlds, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rock of Ages and more.
Falzon also co-founded jazz vocal group, Swing On This, and was a theatrical producer through his company, Good Egg Creative.
Most recently, he appeared alongside Tina Arena in the 2018-19 Australian tour of Evita. Falzon had been scheduled to appear in the 2019 tour of Sweeney Todd with Anthony Warlow and Kath & Kim’s Gina Riley. However, he was forced to pull out of the production due to ill health.
Falzon, a vegetarian with an active lifestyle, termed his diagnosis “dumb luck”.
“Because I am fit and healthy, it’s allowed me to have the most aggressive treatment for the type of cancer I had,” he told Studio 10.
“It’s unfair for anybody…[but] it just happened. I’m not responsible for it.”
Performing arts publicist Ian Phipps first shared news of Falzon’s passing overnight. Tributes began to flood social media soon after.
Fellow musical theatre performer, David Campbell, wrote that Falzon was “a vital member of this industry” with “a smile that could light up a stage and the first ten rows”.
https://twitter.com/DavidCampbell73/status/1275533341027008512?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Another highly-regarded theatre performer, Amanda Harrison, said that she would always cherish her friend and fellow performer.
Michael Falzon. My friend. Of 25years. I can’t even begin to address how I feel about your passing. I’m in shock even though I knew you were sick. Scott and I will cherish you always. To Jane, we love you and hold you close today even though you’re far away. I’llmiss you so much. pic.twitter.com/ObQIMQa8Yx
— Amanda Harrison (@amandaharra) June 23, 2020
Michael Falzon is survived by his wife, violinist Jane Cho.
Watch Michael Falzon perform ‘Under Pressure’ by Queen & David Bowie:
