Andrew Lloyd Webber, a highly acclaimed Broadway composer, has revealed the final moments of his son Nicholas Webber, a composer and record producer as well, who was smiling and reciting P.G. Wodehouse just one day before he died of stomach cancer at the age of 43.
The famed composer, 75, wrote in a heartbreaking essay for The New York Times published just days after Nick’s March 25th demise in hospice care that the father-son duo were chatting in Wodehouse quotes.
“‘Here’s one for you,’ Nick laughed. “He had deduced from New York bulletins that his father, as Wodehouse might have put it, was less than gruntled,” Andrew wrote.
Nothing is more heartbreaking for a parent than the death of a kid.
“‘Has anyone ever seen a dramatic critic during the day?” Obviously not. They come out after dark and get up to mischief.’ We exchanged hugs and said our goodbyes.”
“The next day, my son died,” wrote the British musical icon. “Nothing is more heartbreaking for a parent than the death of a child.”
On March 19, the composer of “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” and “Bad Cinderella” also announced Nick’s critical health to the public.
“I am absolutely devastated to say that my eldest son Nick is critically ill,” said the EGOT winner in a statement.
“As my friends and family know, he has been fighting gastric cancer for the last 18 months, and Nick is now hospitalised.”
Andrew reported on Twitter a few days later that his second-oldest child, Nick, had died, telling his followers, “I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital.”
“His entire family is gathered together, and we are all completely bereft,” the UK native continued before signing off, “-ALW.”
Nick had been following in his famous father’s footsteps, and had even been nominated for a Grammy for scoring the original cast recording of “Cinderella” in 2021.
