Rob Guest

Infobox actor
name = Rob Guest


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birthname = Robert John Guest
birthdate = birth date|1950|7|17|df=y
birthplace = Birmingham, England, UK
deathdate = death date and age|2008|10|2|1950|7|17|df=y
deathplace = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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occupation = Musical theatre performer, actor, singer, television host
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spouse = Kellie Dickerson
Judy Barnes (divorced)
Lynette Perry (divorced)
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children = Amy, Christopher
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Robert John (Rob) Guest, OBE (17 July 1950 — 2 October 2008) was a British-born New Zealand actor and singer, best known for his work in the Australian musical theatre scene, particularly in various productions of "The Phantom of the Opera". He played the lead for a record 2,289 performances over seven years,cite web|url=http://www.wickedthemusical.com.au/wicked/WICKEDinOz/Cast_page4.htm|title=ROB GUEST O.B.E. (as The Wizard)|publisher=wickedthemusical.com.au|accessdate=2008-10-02] more than any other performer, including Michael Crawford the performer most recognised in the role.

Biography

Rob Guest was born in Birmingham, England. The family moved to New Zealand when the young Guest was 13; they went to Canada for a time, but returned to Auckland, where he attended Mt Albert Grammar School and Avondale College.

Guest first came to Australia in 1970 with the band Sark, which played at the "Whisky Au Go-Go" and Chequers in Sydney. However, the competition was too tough and he returned to New Zealand. He became a pop singer on the New Zealand radio charts, and starred for many years on a number of shows including "Happen Inn". He also appeared in the Hamilton Operatic Society's productions of "Half a Sixpence" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". He won his first lead at age 22 in "The Jesus Christ Revolution" (which was presented as "Man of Sorrows" in New Zealand and which predated "Jesus Christ Superstar"). After performing his hit songs all around the world, Guest won the 1978 Korean Song Festival Best Male Vocalist trophy, recorded a special for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and was voted the 1979 New Zealand 'Professional Performer of the Year'.

In 1981 he moved to the United States with his first wife Lynette Perry, where he spent most of the 1980s performing and hosting shows in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Nevada and Lake Tahoe. In 1985 Guest won the FIDOF Award in Los Angeles for his performance at the World Song Festival. He returned to New Zealand, opened a photographic studio, while continuing to moonlight as a performer. In 1988, he was named New Zealand's male theatrical performer of the year.

Rob Guest moved to Australia after he was cast as Jean Valjean in the Australian production of "Les Misérables", following Normie Rowe in this role, and spent three and a half years touring Australia and New Zealand in the role; Guest also received a Green Room Award for Best Male Performer in a Leading Role. [http://aussietheatre.com/news.htm#rob] He then followed Anthony Warlow in the title role in "The Phantom of the Opera", and played the role from December 1991 to September 1998. Guest performed the role for a world record 2,289 shows. During this time he also hosted the game show "Man O Man".

Guest was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire on New Year's Day 1994, for his services to the New Zealand entertainment industry. [cite web|url=http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=53528&geotype=London&gpn=34&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=robert%20guest%20zealand&exact=&atleast=&similar=|title=Robert John Guest O.B.E.|date=1993-12-31|work=London Gazette|accessdate=2008-10-02] His first marriage had ended in divorce, and in 1994 he married the singer Judy Barnes. They had two children, Christopher and Amy. This marriage also ended in divorce. In 1995 Guest appeared in the 10th Anniversary Concert Performance of "Les Misérables" at the Royal Albert Hall, and reprised the role of Jean Valjean in 1998/9 for the Australasian 10th anniversary production.

Since his appearances in "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Misérables", Guest performed in a number of high-profile roles, including Al Jolson in "Jolson", Captain von Trapp in "The Sound of Music", Rev Shaw Moore in "Footloose", and Harold Hill in "The Music Man". Guest also performed countless gala performances both in Australia and internationally, twice hosting Carols in the Domain and releasing four gold-selling albums.

On the evening of 30 September 2008, Guest was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, after suffering a stroke. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24430526-661,00.html 'Outlook Grim' for Entertainer Rob Guest After Massive Stroke] ] He died on the morning of 2 October 2008 [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/everybody-loved-him-stars-plan-tribute-to-wicked-star-rob-guest/2008/10/02/1222651249030.html 'Everybody loved him': stars plan tribute to Wicked star Rob Guest] , "The Age", 2 October 2008. " ... died this morning after suffering a massive stroke."] with his partner Kellie Dickerson, family and friends by his side. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24434440-661,00.html Theatre great Rob Guest dies after suffering a stroke] ]

At the time of his death, Guest was appearing as the Wizard of Oz in the original Melbourne cast of the hit musical "Wicked", which had opened earlier in 2008.

Performances

Guest had over 40 major roles to his credit at the time of his death. Notable roles included:
*"Jekyll & Hyde" as Jekyll and Hyde
*"Jesus Christ Superstar" as Jesus Christ
*"Jolson" as Al Jolson
*"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" as Joseph
*"Les Misérables" as Jean Valjean
*"Man O Man (host)
*"Pippin" as Pippin
*"The Music Man" as Harold Hill
*"The Phantom of the Opera" as The Phantom
*"The Sound of Music" as Captain Von Trapp
*"" as Sweeney Todd
*"Wicked" as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Awards

*Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
*Entertainer of the Year
*Recording Artist of the Year
*Theatrical Performer of the Year
*Benny Award Winner
*Shure Gold Microphone Award
*Green Room Award – Best Male Theatrical Performer – Jean Valjean
*Best Performance Award – Los Angeles – Los Angeles Song Festival
*F.I.D.O.F Award. Seoul Korea

References

External links

* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/singer-who-gave-his-musicals-life/2008/10/03/1223013785408.html The Sydney Morning Herald Obituary]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/national/a-shining-star-of-the-stage-without-pretensions-20081003-4tkw.html?page=1 A shining star of the stage without pretensions, The Age, 4 October 2008]