Superstar Rob Guest dies at 57

Internationally renowned performer Rob Guest died today after suffering a massive stroke - but his legacy will continue to live on in Rotorua.

President of the Rotorua Musical Theatre Society Glenys Searancke today told The Daily Post if it was not for Guest there would be no local theatre society.

Guest, 57, died in St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne early today, surrounded by family and friends.

He had been starring in the Melbourne production of Wicked and last performed at the weekend.

He was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital on Tuesday night.

Guest starred in productions of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar at Rotorua's Civic Theatre in the early 1980s.

"He had a vast effect on Rotorua theatre and the money we earned off those productions paid for the building of the Casablanca Theatre on Riri St," Mrs Searancke said.

She said Guest had many friends and supporters in Rotorua who will be shocked to learn of his death.

Long-time friend of Guest, musical director Robert Young said his death was very hard to take.

"I was with Rob two weeks ago and went to his show and had supper with him and his partner afterward," he said.

Mr Young is in Rotorua to direct a production of Jeckyll and Hyde to be performed here early next year.

"We met in 1969 doing television's Happin Inn.

"I really will miss his laughter.

"We did so many shows together and I think apart from being a great artist he was a great friend," Mr Young told The Daily Post today.

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.

Top New Zealand entertainer Ray Columbus says Rob Guest was at the top 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."

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)."

Columbus, 65, said he was still recovering from his own stroke four months ago which put him in critical care and nearly killed him.

"I was just lucky.

"I had a heart attack four years ago last Monday so I have had warnings but it sounds like Rob had a massive stroke and that's it," he said. Additional reporting NZPA