Three Time Tony-Nominated Broadway Actor Rebecca Luker Passes Away At The Age Of 59

Three-time Tony-nominated soprano, actor Rebecca Luker passed away on Wednesday in Manhattan. She was 59 years old. Luker, who had a three-decade-long Broadway career, earned Tony nominations for Mary Poppins, The Music Man and Show Boat. Late last year, she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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In February this year, the actor had shared her ALS diagnosis with her social media followers,  adding that she had "the best medical care in the world and the greatest support. My dear husband Danny has been an angel. I will get well. In the meantime, we fight and go forward. Keep us in your thoughts."

Hello friends. I have some tough news. Late last year I was diagnosed with ALS. I have the best medical care in the world and the greatest support. My dear husband Danny has been an angel. I will get well. In the meantime, we fight and go forward. Keep us in your thoughts.

— Rebecca Luker (@RebeccaJLuker) February 9, 2020

As soon as the news of demise broke, tributes started flooding social media. Broadway star Laura Benanti called Luker "humble, loving and kind" with a golden voice” that would "wrap you in peace" in her tweet. "I will always love you, Becca," she added.

Rebecca Luker was humble, loving and kind. So much so that you would sometimes forget her otherworldly talent, until she would sing, and her golden voice would wrap you in peace. She was an angel on earth, and now in Heaven. I will always love you, Becca. ✨ pic.twitter.com/yZ9sfunM5L

— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) December 23, 2020

Fellow Broadway star Seth Rudetsky tweeted that Luker's death was "a great loss for Broadway and the world."

A great loss for Broadway and the world. https://t.co/cycP9lncAh

— Seth Rudetsky (@SethRudetsky) December 23, 2020

Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth tweeted that Luker was "one of the main reasons I wanted to be a soprano."

My friend and one of the main reasons I wanted to be a soprano.... Her voice was soprano heaven. I love you, Rebecca. I know you’re no longer in pain and already singing your heart out up there 💔 pic.twitter.com/bEqoSbcIsS

— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) December 23, 2020

Actor Bernadette Peters, known to a five-decade-long association with theatre, called Luker "one of the most beautiful voices on Broadway and a lovely person.”

Rebecca Luker was one of the most beautiful voices on Broadway and a lovely person ,,We are all devastated for Danny and for ourselves,,we will never get to witness her talents on stage again 💔💔💔💔RIP Dear Dear Girl🕊 pic.twitter.com/6qSKhEZZ2c

— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) December 23, 2020

Earlier this year, Luker's husband Danny Burstein, who also acts on Broadway, was hospitalised to receive COVID-19 treatment. When he recovered, in April Luker, too, contracted coronavirus, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Rebecca Luker received her bachelor's degree in music from the University of Montevallo, where she later was awarded an honorary doctorate.

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Her most memorable roles were playing Winifred Banks in the 2006 run of Mary Poppins, Marian Paroo in the 2000 revival of The Music Man, and Magnolia in the 1994 revival of Show Boat. She also played Maria Rainer in the 1998 revival of The Sound of Music. Her last stage performance was in Kennedy Center’s 2019 production of Footloose.

Feature Image Credit: NYPost

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