Ken Page, the celebrated Broadway actor known for his roles in Cats and The Wiz, and the iconic voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, passed away on Monday at his home in St. Louis at the age of 70. His death was confirmed by his longtime friend, Dorian Hannaway, though no cause was provided.
Page’s career spanned stage and screen, with standout performances in the original Broadway productions of Cats, where he portrayed the wise Old Deuteronomy, and Ain’t Misbehavin’, for which he won a Drama Desk Award. He debuted on Broadway in The Wiz as the Cowardly Lion and later earned acclaim in Guys and Dolls.
Offstage, Page reached a wider audience as the voice of Oogie Boogie, the menacing villain in the 1993 animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. His performance as the bug-filled antagonist became a beloved part of Halloween celebrations, and he reprised the role in video games and concerts, including the movie’s 30th anniversary event at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023.
In addition to his voice work, Page appeared in films like Dreamgirls and Torch Song Trilogy, and made guest appearances on TV shows like Family Matters and Touched by an Angel. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the St. Louis Arts Center and the Manhattan Association of Cabarets.
Page was a lifelong St. Louis native and a prominent figure at the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (The Muny), where he appeared in over 45 productions and served as “The Voice of The Muny.”
Fans and fellow actors, including writer-producer Tim Burton, shared tributes following his death. Burton described him as “one of the best, most generous souls,” while Cats co-star Elaine Paige said, “He was a lovely, kind, talented man.”
Ken Page’s legacy as a dynamic performer and voice artist continues to inspire generations of theatergoers and fans.
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