Pugh played the Auctioneer in the original cast of Phantom and was still a member of the company at the time of his death although he had been on a short leave. While he played many different roles throughout the musical's run, he had been portraying the character Joseph Buquet for a while. Prior to Phantom, Pugh appeared on the Great White Way in Sweeney Todd, The Music Man, Copperfield and Zorba.
Pugh is survived by his father, his sister and his nephew.