From Comic Book Resources
Ken Page, a revered stage performer and voice actor, has died. He was 70 years old.
Per Radio Times, Page’s death was announced by Dorian Hannaway, a friend of the actor, with a social media post reading, “Ken Page has passed onto the next show. My heart is broken.” The news comes as a surprise as Page had still been active as a performer, recently appearing on stage for a production of Les Misérables this past summer. No additional details have yet been revealed about the manner of Page’s passing.
Born in 1954, Page majored in theater at Fontbonne College before launching his career in show business. He made his Broadway debut in production of The Wiz and went on to appear in shows like Guys and Dolls, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Children of Eden, The Wizard of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, and more. One of his best known stage show performances is as Old Deuteronomy in Cats, a part he reprised for the video release of the musical in 1998. Additionally, Page created his own cabaret show, dubbed Page by Page.
Page is perhaps best known for providing the voice of the antagonistic character, Oogie Boogie, in the animated Disney movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. He debuted as the voice of the character in the original film released in 1998. While no movie sequels were made, Page would continue to provide the voice of Oogie Boogie in a slew of tie-in video games. This includes the 2004 game The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revengealong with its 2005 sequel The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King. Page’s voice as Oogie Boogie could also be heard in several Kingdom Hearts video games.
“I went up to San Francisco to sing for them and not actually thinking that I was going to do the speaking role. I thought they just wanted somebody to sing a song,” Page explained in a 2023 interview, sharing how he’d landed the role. “They asked me about the character and what did I think. I had seen some of the storyboards. I said, ‘To me, maybe it’s a cross between Burt Lahr from The Wizard of Oz, Cab Calloway and the voice of the demon in The Exorcist.”
The actor also provided the voice of King Gator in the animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven, released in 1999. His other roles include in film I’ll Do Anything, Shortcut to Happiness, and Dreamgirls. He also had several other roles on the small screen, including recurring roles in the TV shows Sable, Adventures in Wonderland, and South Central. He also did voice work for Duckman and All Grown Up!, and had special roles in Family Matters, Gimme a Break!, Toudched by an Angel, and State of Mind.
Rest in peace, Ken Page.
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