Bret Hanna-Shuford, beloved Wicked actor and one-half of the popular Broadway Husbands social media duo, has passed away at the age of 46. His husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a moving Instagram post on 3 January.
The Broadway performer, known for his roles in Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, had been diagnosed in mid-2025 with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and T-Cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Sharing the news of Bret’s passing, Stephen wrote:
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that early this morning we said goodbye to the most amazing man, husband and Papa in the universe. Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully with love surrounded by his family. Our hearts are broken but we will continue to make him proud of us…”
A Life in the Spotlight
Bret made his Broadway debut in 2005 in the ensemble of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, later taking on roles in Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. He also served as an understudy in Wicked, covering roles including The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond.
His on-screen credits included appearances in Law and Order: SVU, Only Murders in the Building, and The Good Fight.
Bret and Stephen met in 2007 and married in 2011. Together, they launched the Broadway Husbands brand, sharing their journey as a married couple and fathers to their three-year-old son, Maverick. Through platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, they amassed a combined following of over 450,000 fans, sharing heartfelt, humorous, and uplifting moments from their lives.
Just a week before Bret’s passing, the couple had shared a hopeful Christmas Day post from his hospital bed, writing they were “looking forward to a new year” and were “grateful” for the ongoing support of their community.
A Community in Mourning
A GoFundMe campaign set up to help with Bret’s medical expenses has raised more than $333,000 of its $350,000 target. Page organiser and close friend Scott shared a tribute after the news, writing:
“Sending love to you all… and gratitude for the incredible support Bret’s village provided him these past few months… the most beautiful symbol of a life well lived.”
Tributes have flooded in from across the performing arts world.
Actor Busy Philipps commented: “This news is absolutely heartbreaking… you both have brought such light and beauty and hilarity into the world.”
Broadway veteran Kevin Chamberlin wrote: “What a beautiful soul and such a fighter. Sending lots of hugs to you and your family.”
Tony Award-winner Lindsay Mendez added: “Sending so much love to your family. Bret will be so, so missed by our entire community.”
Bret Hanna-Shuford leaves behind a legacy of kindness, visibility, and unwavering joy both on and off stage — a beacon of love to fans around the world.
