Andrew Lloyd Webber's Son, Nicholas, Dead at 43

The famed composer announced the devastating news on social media today.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced the passing of his oldest son, Nicholas "Nick" Lloyd Webber, at the age of 43.

"I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital," Andrew, 75, announced on Twitter on Saturday, March 25. "His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft."

Nick's tragic death comes only a week after Andrew announced he would be missing the opening performance of his Broadway musical Bad Cinderella, as Nick was critically ill with gastric cancer, which he had been battling for 18 months.

In a press release shared with Playbill on March 18, Andrew wrote, "I am absolutely devastated to say that my eldest son Nick is critically ill. As my friends and family know, he has been fighting gastric cancer for the last 18 months and Nick is now hospitalised...We are all praying that Nick will turn the corner. He is bravely fighting with his indomitable humour, but at the moment my place is with him and the family."

Andrew then spoke with the New York Post on the phone ahead of the opening performance, where he revealed it was the first of his shows' openings that he had ever missed.

“And that’s because the first thing I am is a father,” he said. “I adore Nicholas. He’s been my rock. My anchor. Talented musician, he writes great music. Great sense of humor, great help to me during lockdown when we were doing our Cinderella album."

Andrew then shared that Nick had recently been moved to a nearby hospice. “The cancer goes up and down one day to the other. He came through the weekend and I went to see him this morning. Even today, very ill, he still smiled and said, ‘Hope your show goes well.’"

He also shared a hopeful update with his followers on Instagram that same morning, March 23, expressing his gratitude for their support while sending love to the cast ahead of opening night.

In the video, Andrew shared that Nick had also been battling pneumonia, but, at the time, they believed he was past the worst of it.

Nick was also a composer and record producer. He scored the BBC drama Love, Lies and Records and the film The Last Bus. He also produced the Andrew Lloyd Webber Symphonic Suites at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, and co-produced a Cinderella album that went number one on the UK compilation charts.

In addition to his father, Nick is survived by his mother, Sarah Hugill, older sister, Imogen, his half-siblings, Alastair Adam, William Richard, and Isabella Aurora, his step-mother, Madeleine Gurdon, his wife, Polly Wiltshire, and one-year-old son.

Our hearts are with Andrew and the rest of Nick's family.