Local actor Eli Stewart was a remarkably quiet person, says one of his many area stage directors, Robert Michael Sanders – “until it was time to be funny.”

Then, it was go-time.

Stewart had the year of his life as a local actor in 2018, but then he stepped away from the spotlight for the best of reasons. He and his wife, Kayla, had become parents to now 5-year-old Waverly. Or as most people call her, “Wavy.” 

Stewart was active on area stages going back to “Evil Dead, the Musical” at the Bug Theatre in 2013, when he was still a student at Metropolitan State University Denver. He played Ed, a poor sap who can’t get a word in edgewise with his girlfriend AND gets turned into a zombie AND has the hero sneak up to do him in while he is singing his big solo.

“Eli sang a song called ‘Bit Part Demon,’ which always got the biggest laugh of the night,” said his director, Deb Flomberg-Rollins. “He made the absolute most of a smaller-sized role.”

Stewart appeared in Town Hall Arts Center’s “Bonnie & Clyde” in 2017 before a busy 2018 that spanned “Kiss Me Kate” at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, “Spamalot” at the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre and “A Christmas Carol, the Musical” back at Town Hall in Littleton. That same year, Wavy was born, and the acting took a seat way, way in the back.

Stewart died last week after a brief illness. His wife said Stewart had been feeling ill for about five days before going to a hospital, where he became unresponsive. He was 34.

“This one gutted me,” said Flomberg-Rollins.

“Eli was one of the most enjoyable actors to be around,” added Sanders, who directed Stewart in two productions. “He brought great choices to all of his roles.”

Stewart was known for being reliable, fun and funny to work with – and proudly super nerdy. He particularly enjoyed all things “Harry Potter,” Pokémon, NERF play and the Japanese manga series “One Piece.” 

But mostly, he was known for being a great dad.

“He was an incredible father to Waverly,” said local sound designer Patrice Mondragon, who attended Ralston Valley High School with Kayla. Or, as family friend and photographer Adriane Leigh Robinson put it: “He was an A-plus dad, husband and friend – all the time.” She saw it first-hand at a recent outdoor photo session.

“We met at a rose garden that had a water fountain,” said Leigh Robinson. “Waverly was playing all around it. We were all waiting for her to fall in, and at the end – she did. But Eli stayed extremely cool and calm. He picked her up, soaking wet, and comforted her.

“I had some old PJ’s with raccoons on them in the trunk of my car to bring to Goodwill. Eli slipped these Adriane-sized PJs onto his daughter and she looked so adorable. So instead of ending the shoot, Eli said, ‘Let’s take some pictures of me and Waverly in the PJs’ – and they are among my favorites because they show just how completely gentle and sweet he was with her.”

Stewart grew up in Greeley and graduated from University High School in 2007 and Metro State in 2014. He began dating Kayla in 2013. They married in April 2017 and welcomed Wavy the next year.

At the end of 2012, Stewart posted a social message that, a dozen years later, still seems to sum up his life philosophy:

“As we go through this upcoming year, remember to keep those close to you close. Don’t hold grudges, because they may haunt you, and always remember to put yourself out there and live life!”

Survivors include his mother, Tonna Powers. An open-house memorial gathering will be held from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the King Center black-box theater on the Auraria campus, 855 Lawrence Way.

An online fundraier has been set up at gofundme.com to help the family.