Bret Hanna-Shuford, a Broadway actor and social media influencer, has died after being treated for a rare and aggressive cancer. He was 46.
His husband, Stephen Hanna-Shuford, confirmed the news on social media, announcing that Bret died in the early hours of Saturday, January 3.
“Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully and surrounded by his family with love,” the post said. “Our hearts are broken, but we will continue to make him proud.”
Hanna-Shuford was diagnosed in the summer of 2025 with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), two rare and life-threatening conditions that affect the immune system.
HLH occurs when the immune system becomes dangerously overactive and attacks healthy organs and tissues, while PTCL is an aggressive form of blood cancer.
The two conditions are often linked, making diagnosis and treatment difficult Cleveland Clinic. Bret’s cancer was CD30 negative, meaning it lacked the protein marker used for certain targeted therapies, limiting treatment options.
He spent months in the hospital, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, undergoing intensive care and chemotherapy.
During his illness, Bret and Stephen shared candid updates with their followers. In an October post, Bret revealed that he spent three days unconscious in the intensive care unit. “I really want to go home,” he wrote. “I miss my son very much, and my husband.”
A GoFundMe launched in August helped cover medical costs and time away from work. Tremendous support was received from the entire Broadway community, including John Tartaglia, Douglas Sills and former Disney Theatrical Group president Thomas Schumacher.
Born May 20, 1979, Hanna-Shuford appeared on Broadway and toured in such productions as Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Amazing Grace.
His additional credits include South Pacific at Lincoln Center, Ragtime, Next to Normal, Paramour with Cirque du Soleil and Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
He is survived by his husband, Stephen, and their 3-year-old son, Maverick.
