Tributes are pouring in following the death of a beloved actor, influencer, and Broadway performer at the age of 46—just days after a social media post that left fans devastated.
Bret Hanna-Shuford, 46, died after a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer, The Sun reported. His death came shortly after he shared a heartbreaking photo from his hospital bed, smiling beside his husband. On Christmas Day, the father of one posted an upbeat image while looking ahead to 2026, writing: “Hope to see you all soon.”
On Saturday, his partner, Stephen Hanna, confirmed the news that Bret had passed away peacefully.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that early this morning we said goodbye to the most amazing man, husband and Papa in the universe,” Stephen wrote. “Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully with love surrounded by his family. Our hearts are broken but we will continue to make him proud of us.”

Bret (right) passed away just days after posting this photo alongside his husband. Picture: Instagram

Hanna-Shuford leaves behind his three-year-old son. Picture: Instagram
Bret is survived by his young son, Maverick, 3.

The actor—who appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, The Little Mermaid, and Wicked—was diagnosed over the summer with an aggressive form of cancer. He faced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and T-Cell Lymphoma, both rare disorders that left him in and out of hospital during his final months. The illnesses attack the body’s immune system, with T-Cell Lymphoma considered among the deadliest forms of the disease.
Bret and Stephen were widely known for their growing social media presence documenting their family life. Their account, “Broadway Husbands,” had more than 255,000 followers at the time of Bret’s death and had been used in recent months to share updates on his condition. In October, Bret revealed he had spent three days unconscious in the ICU after the disease severely affected his immune system.

His health also forced him to step back from his graduate studies at the University of Central Florida. The couple had only recently moved into a new home in Orlando at the time.

The actor has also featured in several films. Picture: Instagram

Hanna-Shuford had become an influencer. Picture: John Lamparski/WireImage
A GoFundMe fundraiser was launched in August to support Bret. By Saturday evening, it had raised more than $315,000 toward a $350,000 goal. One of the final updates on the fundraiser, posted on December 12, said Bret had been hospitalized since Thanksgiving.

“As many of you may have noticed, posts have been rather radio silent from both Bret and Stephen,” a friend wrote. “These past few weeks have been some of the toughest that they have faced in this cancer journey. Bret has been in the hospital since just before Thanksgiving.”

At the time, the update suggested there were signs of improvement. “As of today, Bret is looking and feeling better. His liver enzymes have plateaued, which is good, and he is back in the right direction with his oxygen,” the post

continuedBeyond his online following, Bret built a career with numerous screen credits, including a 2018 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a 2023 appearance on the crime drama series FBI: Most Wanted. According to his IMDb page, he also directed an episode of Hulu’s Emmy Award-winning series Only Murders in the Building in 2023.

Bret and Stephen, who works at Walt Disney World, married in April 2011.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission..