Home / Arts and Entertainment / Broadway Star Bret Hanna-Shuford Dies at 46 After Rare Cancer Battle
Broadway Star Bret Hanna-Shuford Dies at 46 After Rare Cancer Battle
4 Jan
Summary
- Bret Hanna-Shuford, known for Broadway and social media, died at 46.
- He battled aggressive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and PTCL.
- A GoFundMe was established to support his family during his illness.
Broadway actor and social media personality Bret Hanna-Shuford died on January 3, 2026, at the age of 46, following a rare cancer diagnosis. He was diagnosed in the summer of 2025 with aggressive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), conditions that significantly impacted his immune system and required intensive treatment.
Throughout his illness, Bret and his husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, shared updates, garnering support from the Broadway community. A GoFundMe was established in August 2025 to help with medical bills and household expenses as Bret spent months in the hospital. Notable figures from Broadway contributed to the fund.
Born May 20, 1979, Bret had a distinguished career on stage, appearing in productions like 'Wicked,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' and 'The Little Mermaid.' He was also pursuing graduate studies at the University of Central Florida before his health required him to pause his education to begin chemotherapy.
