Sheets died unexpectedly on Feb. 4 of an aneurysm at the age of 53. Sheets joined the Broadway company of Les Miz in 1988 and stayed, on and off, for eight years. He began by playing the role of Brujon, but would go on to fill 12 different ensemble roles. His biggest responsibility was as alternate and understudy for the lead role of Jean Valjean. He portrayed Valjean more than 300 times on Broadway.

Following Les Miz, he jumped to Phantom in a new guise, as star dresser in charge of the costumes worn by the actor portraying The Phantom. In this capacity, he dressed such performers as Hugh Panaro and current star Howard McGillin. He was an integral third of the trio responsible for the long process of transforming the leading man into the title character (also including the actor and long-time make-up supervisor Thelma Pollard). He worked at the show until his death, and his loss has been deeply felt by the entire Phantom family, a spokesman said.

In addition to Les Miz, Sheets acted Off-Broadway, in many regional theatre productions and in five national tours, including Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan, Annie Get Your Gun with Debbie Reynolds and Camelot with Richard Harris.