Who played in phantom of the opera

Discover some of the best actors to have previously played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s The Phantom of the Opera.

The Phantom of the Opera is the second-longest running musical in London. Millions of theatregoers have been transported to Paris Opera House via Her Majesty's Theatre. We take a look back at some of the greatest actors to have previously played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s The Phantom of the Opera. Discover more about “the music of the night” with The Phantom of the Opera in London.

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Killian Donnelly

Donnelly first starred in The Phantom of the Opera in the early 2010s as Raoul. A decade later, Donelly returned to The Phantom of the Opera in the title role. He originally played the Phantom in the musical's UK tour, however the show was cancelled after 13 performances due to the pandemic. See Killian Donnelly in The Phantom of the Opera.

Michael Crawford

Having originated the role of the Phantom at Her Majesty’s Theatre, there’s a timeless quality to Michael Crawford’s performance.. Winning an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical, Crawford starred opposite Sarah Brightman as Christine Daae for two years, and won the Olivier for best actor in a musical. After his London performances, he reprised the role on Broadway. As well as his Phantom credit, Crawford’s appeared in West End productions including The Woman in White and The Wizard of Oz.

Ramin Karimloo

Ramin Karimloo’s history with The Phantom of the Opera stretches over two decades, taking over the role of Raoul for a 12-month engagement. Leaving the company to play Enjolras in Les Miserables, Karimloo made his debut as the titular character in 2006, staying in the role until 2009. His West End career has seen him originate the Phantom in Love Never Dies, winning an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical, as well as starring in the musical’s 25th anniversary production.

John Owen-Jones

Did you know that John Owen-Jones has played the Phantom for more performances than anyone in British history? After a continuous run of nearly 1,400 performances in the 2000s, he later reprised the role for a four month engagement in 2015. He’s also starred in Les Miserables as Jean Valjean and a concert production of Show Boat at the Royal Albert Hall.

Simon Bowman

After originating the role of Chris in Miss Saigon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Bowman moved a few streets down the road to star in the operatic musical from September 1994. Taking over the role of Raoul, Bowman later made his Phantom debut in April 1996, appearing as part of the musical’s coveted 10th anniversary celebrations alongside original members Crawford and Sarah Brightman.

Peter Polycarpou

He’s starred in a number of London’s greatest musicals, including Miss Saigon, Oklahoma! and Sweeney Todd, but did you know that Peter Polycarpou has played the Phantom? Taking over the role in 1991, the British born Greek-Cypriot actor sung alongside Shona Lindsay in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. In recent years, Polycarpou has returned to operatic productions such as Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum.

Ben Forster

After winning a nationwide televised competition to play Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Forster continued his theatre career by playing the Phantom in 2016. It’s not the first time he’s appeared in a Lloyd Webber musical, previously in Evita at the Dominion Theatre.

Tim Howar

Canadian singer and songwriter Tim Howar is best known as one sixth of rock group Mike and the Mechanics, however he’s built up a theatre CV any budding actor would dream of. Making his London debut at the turn of the century, he’s performed in Peggy Sue Got Married, Tonight’s the Night and On The Town. In recent years, he’s starred in Rock of Ages as Stacee Jaxx and Chess at the London Coliseum. Even though he’s not played the Phantom for long, we’re enjoying his unique, raspy take on the role.

David Thaxton

Perhaps best known for his acclaimed performances in Les Miserables and Passion, David Thaxton has also played the Phantom in 2019. Like Ramin Karimloo, Thaxton’s no stranger to the characters in The Phantom of the Opera, having appeared in the original cast of Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre.

Originally published on Apr 16, 202011:26

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Never loses it's beauty....

I have just come from seeing phantom and was completely swept away. The stage show is my all time favorite Broadway show and I was a bit nervous as to how Phantom and the music of the night would hold up on the big screen but I needn't have worried because it was very definitely worth the price of the ticket-and then some.The movie, for the most part, retains much of the stage show, I'd say about 85 percent true to the show, though there were slight differences. The magic present in the show live, is still, for the most part, here on film. In fact, I was wondering if I would cry during the movie and of coarse I did. Phantom of the Opera's's loveliness is still so luminous and the movie just fills your senses. I don't think there was a sound in the theater during the whole movie.The film's look-among the most riveting I've ever seen-colorful, rich and oozing vibrancy, the look and feel are just magnificent. I sure hope this movie wins some awards for it's costumes and Cinematography. At times, there was almost a bit TO much going on which, as my friends and I discussed takes the focus away from the music a bit and maybe(though I'm torn on this) they should have toned it down just a tiny tiny bit. Still, the look was so spectacular I'm not even sure I'd definitely have done that myself. But still, 10 of 10 for atmosphere.The casting-pretty good for the most part. I simply cannot believe Emmy Rossum is only 18 years old, she is magnificent and I am in awe of her. She was a beautiful, lovely Christine and I think we'll be seeing a lot of her in the future.Gerard Butler has been getting some flack. I actually liked him in the role of the phantom although I began to feel more strongly about his rightness as the movie went on, not right at the beginning. That is not because he wasn't good in the role, just different then the stage version. To me, his singing got more and more soulful as the movie went on and his acting was an A plus, he wasn't just there to sing and look pretty, he acted the heck out of the role and succeeded in elevating the phantom from just a presence to a tortured individual. People have been saying he's to good looking, well that's certainly not his fault!(though they really could have gotten a more realistic looking mask for him to wear.) And besides, his looks are transcended by the end, they lose their focus until we are barely aware of them. He did a really good job. Patrick Wilson surprised me the most, I think in a way, I enjoyed his voice the most. He was simply Superb, and he too, embodied Raoul. He is a talented actor with a moving, gently powerful voice and he was great. Minnie Driver, Miranda Richarardson-all great. Good casting choices.

All in all a great night at the movies-I am giving this a 9 and I think if I had to say why it's not a perfect 10, it's just that this story was meant to, first be, a theatrical production, and as good as the movie was, and as many tears as I cried, it did not haunt me in the same way as the stage show. That does not take away from the movie's power or magnificence, I'm not even sure it could have been any better at all as a movie. It's just that seeing it live sends chills down my spine and haunts in a way that only a stage musical can do. I can actually understand how some people are not impressed by Phantom because, the bottom line is, this is as much about the music as the story and if one isn't a fan of this type of music, one probably won't simply find a lot here. But for those who have seen the beauty of Phantom on stage, they'll (probebly) love it and better yet, for those lucky enough to come into this film, and love it, WITHOUT having ever seen the play-see the play-because if you think the movie version is the stuff that magnificence is made of, think about all that live on stage right in front of you. This movie is good and I admiringly give it a 9 of 10.

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