Kyle Birch, a British theater actor who starred in “A Strange Loop” and “The Color Purple,” among other hit musicals, died Monday at the age of 26.
Birch’s death was confirmed by his agent, Russell Smith, in a social media post on Wednesday. As of Friday afternoon, a cause of death had not been publicly confirmed.
“I am heartbroken to announce that my dear friend and client, Kyle Birch, passed away on the evening of Monday, December 2, 2024,” Smith wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
He described Birch as a “truly remarkable talent” with a “soulful, powerful, and deeply resonant” voice.
“His passing leaves an unfillable void in the lives of all who knew him and in the hearts of those who admired his artistry,” Smith wrote. “Kyle was more than a client or a performer ― he was a light in our lives, a cherished friend, and a singular talent. There was only one Kyle.”
His post also directed fans to an online fundraiser for Birch’s funeral expenses.
“Kyle had the most infectious energy that will shine bright forever,” Alice Catherine Field, a friend of Birch’s who launched the fundraiser, wrote.
A 2020 graduate of the London College of Music, Birch was considered a rising star in British musical theater. He landed his first major role in 2022, when he joined the touring company of “The Color Purple.” His last appearance on the London stage was in a production of the comedy “I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire” at the Southwark Playhouse.
To many theatergoers, however, he’ll be best remembered for his starring performance in “A Strange Loop” on London’s West End last year. The Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical follows Usher, a New York man who aspires to write a show inspired by his own “fat, Black, queer” life.
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Along the way, the character grapples with matters of sexuality, identity and body image while interacting with six abstract characters representing his inner thoughts.
“He manages to convey all of the conflict and difficulties that Usher is going through without coming across as self indulgent,” wrote one reviewer of Birch, who stepped into the leading role after original star Kyle Ramar Freeman departed the production.
Speaking to the U.K.’s Tresa magazine in 2021, Birch described his love of performing and the challenges of launching an acting and singing career during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I was younger I was bought a karaoke machine and I fell in love with it! I would sing along to all the songs and put on performances for my family whenever I could!” he recalled. “It wasn’t until secondary school where I went on a school trip to see ‘Wicked’ that I fell in love with musical theater and realized that I wanted to pursue that as a career!”
“I can’t wait to just go to the theater, hear the orchestra warming up and be transported into another world for two-and-a-half hours,” he told the magazine. “To me, there’s nothing quite like theater, it’s so special!”