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Ken Page

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Ken Page
Ken Page at the 2017 Florida SuperCon
Born
Kenneth Page

(1954-01-20)January 20, 1954
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedSeptember 30, 2024(2024-09-30) (aged 70)
Alma materFontbonne College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1973–2024
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
LabelsLML Music

Ken Page (January 20, 1954 – September 30, 2024)[1] was an American actor and cabaret singer who created the part of Ken in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin' and played Old Deuteronomy in the original Broadway and filmed stage adaptation of Cats. He voiced Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas franchise and played in the original Broadway production of The Wiz as The Lion and the first Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

Early life

Kenneth Page was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised Catholic by his mother, Gloria and his step-father, Garvin Gilstrap. He attended St. Bridget of Erin and St. Nicholas elementary schools. While attending St. Nicholas, he was inspired by a teacher and an older cousin to pursue theater. He subsequently graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School in 1972. From there he attended Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri on a full scholarship and majored in theater.[2]

Career

Ken Page in 2008

Page began his career in the chorus of the Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. After making his Broadway debut in The Wiz, he played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls (Theatre World Award). He was then featured in the original cast of the Fats Waller musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin' (Drama Desk Award), a role he reprised in the 1982 television broadcast. He also returned to the show in its 1988 Broadway revival.

In 1982, Page played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, returning to the part in the 1998 video release. He also played God twice, in Randy Newman's Faust at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodman Theatre and in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden (West End). He frequently acted in shows at The Muny, with appearances including Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, My One and Only, and Little Shop of Horrors.

Besides The Nightmare Before Christmas, Page's major film credits included All Dogs Go to Heaven and Torch Song Trilogy, as well as Dreamgirls. His TV credits included guest roles on shows such as Charmed and Touched by an Angel, as well as various films and specials.

In later years, Page developed and performed his cabaret-singer show, Page by Page, and directed various regional and touring productions. He was the voice of the notorious talking plant Audrey II in the Muny's production of Little Shop of Horrors. He also reprised the role of Old Deuteronomy in the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals production of Cats in Lubbock, Texas.[3]

Page regularly reprised his role as Oogie Boogie in several other Disney productions such as the fireworks display HalloWishes at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, its sister show, Halloween Screams at Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion Holiday (also at Disneyland), the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (at Magic Kingdom) and subsequent video games including The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge and the Kingdom Hearts series.

Personal life

Page once explained: “I’m not closeted, never have been to my knowledge. But ‘gay’ means so many different things to people.” He advised others: "Be careful. I understand, believe me — because I fought for your label. But don’t define yourself by the label you put on yourself.”[4]

Death

Page died on September 30, 2024, at age 70.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Torch Song Trilogy Murray
1989 All Dogs Go to Heaven King Gator Voice
1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas Oogie Boogie
1994 I'll Do Anything Hair Person
1998 Cats Old Deuteronomy Direct-to-video
2003 Shortcut to Happiness Clerk
2006 Dreamgirls Max Washington

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Gimme a Break! Kenneth Wilson Episode: "Class of '84"
1987–1988 Sable Joe "Cheesecake" Tyson 6 episodes
1989 Polly Mayor Warren Television film
Teen Angel Returns Chubby
1990 Family Matters Darnell Watkins Episode: "The Big Reunion"
Capital News Episode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
Polly: Comin' Home! Mayor Warren Television film
1993–1994 Adventures in Wonderland The Walrus 7 episodes
1994 Duckman Additional Voices Episode: "American Dicks"
South Central Dr. Raymond McHenry 3 episodes
1995 Touched by an Angel Ox Episode: "There But for the Grace of God"
1998–2005 Great Performances Old Deuteronomy 2 episodes
2000 Welcome to New York Chef Andre Episode: "Tickets"
2005 All Grown Up! Narrator, Man Voice, episode: "Blind Man's Bluff"
2007 State of Mind Florian

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Kingdom Hearts Oogie Boogie
2004 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
2005 The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
2006 Kingdom Hearts II
2007 Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
2013 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix Archive footage
2014 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

Theatre

Broadway

Off Broadway

Regional

The Muny-St. Louis

Hollywood Bowl

Other

Discography

Singles

  • Page by Page (2008)[6]

Soundtrack

Year Artist / Writer Song Role Film
1989 Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster "Let's Make Music Together" King Gator All Dogs Go to Heaven
1993 Danny Elfman "Oogie Boogie's Song" Oogie Boogie The Nightmare Before Christmas
1997 Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster "Let's Make Music Together" King Gator MGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy
1998 Andrew Lloyd Webber & T.S. Eliot "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats"
"Old Deuteronomy"
"The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles"
"The Jellicle Ball"
"The Moments of Happiness"
"Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"
"The Ad-dressing of Cats"		 Old Deuteronomy Cats
2004 Danny Elfman "Oogie's Song"
"Casino Clash"
"A Filthy Finale"		 Oogie Boogie The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Play Result
1976 Theatre World Award Best Actor Ain't Misbehavin Won
1978 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Guys and Dolls Won

References

  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/share/kmd12sjBPNvXVM5i/
  2. ^ Ken Page Biography. The History Makers. April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2019
  3. ^ Kerns, William (15 October 2014). "Moonlight Musicals' production of 'Cats' using more professionals". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. ^ Cooperman, Jeannette (12 September 2012). "Kenny Cool: Broadway Actor Ken Page Talks About Joy, Celebrity, and Coming Home Again". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Ken Page, Broadway Star of 'The Wiz', 'Ain't Misbehavin & 'Cats' Dies at 70". Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "Page by Page - Ken Page | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
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