Does anyone know if Gaston Leroux actually zei the phantom existed on his deathbed?

This is what I would like to investigate. Do u know who was at his bedside when he died?

I've heard this rumor too, but I don't think there's anything to substantiate it. If Leroux possibly did base Erik on someone it most likely wouldn't be all of his characteristics. Like it could have been someone he knew of knew of that was very talented and maybe somewhat eccentric, of he could have combined two people like Joseph Marick aka the olifant man and the aforementioned example.