Rob Mills has paid tribute to the incredible kindness and work ethic of fellow musical theatre star Kellie Dickerson after her tragic death at 53.

Mills, 41, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a series of photos with his friend and colleague, and some thoughts on her life.

Reminiscing on their time together collaborating on shows such as Wicked and Legally Blonde, the singer praised the musical director for her skill, professionalism, and kindness.

‘She was one of the greats. I wouldn’t be here if not for her,’ he began. 

‘She was in my very first Wicked audition and the second, third and final… each time finding ways to empower confidence in me and also letting me know that what I was doing was a bit shit,’ he continued. 

Rob Mills (pictured right) has paid tribute to the incredible kindness and work ethic of fellow musical theatre star Kellie Dickerson (pictured left) after her tragic death at 53

Mills, 41, took to Instagram to share a series of photos with his friend, and some thoughts on their time together collaborating on shows such as Wicked and Legally Blonde

Rob went on to talk about her incredible work ethic. 

‘The way she would conduct the orchestra, the cast, and herself taught me what true leadership looked like,’ he reflected on his post. 

‘I’ll always remember and miss, “I love you…but…” and a long page of notes. Haha. But she was always right. And my performance and the shows were better for it,’ Mills added.

The Australian musical theatre director lost her battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) – a rare neurodegenerative disorder.

Her agent, Working Management, confirmed the sad news with fans on Instagram on Tuesday. 

‘It was both a joy and honour to be your friend and agent. You gave so much to so many,’ the post began. 

‘The way she would conduct the orchestra, Lesbian Group Sex the cast, and herself taught me what true leadership looked like,’ he reflected on his post

‘I’ll always remember and miss, “I love you…but…” and a long page of notes. Haha. But she was always right. And my performance and the shows were better for it,’ Mills added

‘A true icon of the industry. Your energy, kindness and talent were boundless,’ they continued. 

You never gave up the fight, humour, grace or Wordle!’

Musical threatre star Rhonda Burchmore was among those who shared a tribute on Instagram. 

‘Rest in peace darling Kellie and fly high beautiful lady – MSA is the cruelest of neurological diseases -I know full well as this is the same disease that took my sister’s life away,’ she wrote. 

The Australian musical theatre director lost her battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) – a rare neurodegenerative disorder 

She was diagnosed with MSA in 2020 after first noticing symptoms such as low blood pressure and slurred speech in 2018. Pictured with musical theatre star Lucy Durack

‘Now you can be reunited with darling Rob. Much love to your beautiful parents, Toni and John who cared so wonderfully for you. I am so very sad.’

Dickerson lost her partner, Rob Guest, to a stroke when he was just 57 in 2008.

She was diagnosed with MSA in 2020 after first noticing symptoms such as low blood pressure and slurred speech in 2018. 

It was a two-year battle to get a diagnosis, with the director demanding an MRI before she got the awful news.  

Musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore was among those who shared a tribute on Instagram. ‘I am so very sad,’ she wrote

‘First of all I noticed my balance was poor so I would stumble, and the second thing was my speech was a little slurred as if I was drunk, but of course I wasn’t. I wouldn’t drink at work,’ she told Limelight. 

‘I went to a doctor and I demanded an MRI scan because I thought it was better to know than not to know, and the first one came back normal and so they said “you are crazy”, and I said “no, there is something not quite right”‘ Dickerson continued. 

‘Basically the last two years have been a whirlwind of doctors, with me insisting that something was not right and them saying everything was fine. 

Kellie is pictured with Lucy Durack, Helen Dallimore, Jemma Rix and Amanda Harrison

‘And gradually the second MRI showed something not right, but it wasn’t a brain tumour, it wasn’t cancer – which is something to be grateful for – and not MS. It was this rare condition called MSA.’ 

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, degenerative neurological disorder affecting the body’s involuntary functions, including blood pressure and motor control.

It shares many symptoms with Parkinson’s disease, has no cure and has an average life expectancy of 7-10 years from the time symptoms first appear. 

Dickerson retired from theatre in 2020 and as her disease progressed, she moved home to Dubbo, NSW, where she was cared for by her parents.  

She was an award-winning theatre director, best known for helming productions of the musicals Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and City of Angels.

Dickerson was an award-winning theatre director, best known for helming productions of the musicals Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and City of Angels