Bret Hanna-Shuford

Bret Hanna-Shuford, a versatile Broadway performer and co-creator of the popular 'Broadway Husbands' social media brand, passed away on January 3, 2026, at the age of 46. He died peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning, surrounded by family, following a short but intense battle with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and T-cell lymphoma. His diagnosis had come less than five months prior.

Hanna-Shuford was a beloved figure in the New York theater community, with credits including The Phantom of the Opera, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Little Mermaid. Beyond the stage, he and his husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, built a significant following online chronicling their lives as fathers and artists, advocating for LGBTQ+ visibility and family equality. He was known for his radiant positivity and dedication to his craft.

Tributes from the Broadway community have flooded social media, remembering him as a devoted father to his son Maverick and a "bright light" who uplifted everyone he worked with. His passing is a profound loss for the theater world and the digital community he helped build.