Ken Page

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American actor and singer (1954–2024)

title: "Ken Page" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1954-births", "2024-deaths", "20th-century-african-american-male-singers", "20th-century-american-lgbtq-people", "20th-century-american-male-singers", "20th-century-american-singers", "21st-century-african-american-male-singers", "21st-century-american-lgbtq-people", "21st-century-american-male-singers", "african-american-catholics", "african-american-lgbtq-people", "african-american-male-actors", "american-cabaret-singers", "american-gay-actors", "american-lgbtq-singers", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-musical-theatre-actors", "american-male-stage-actors", "american-male-video-game-actors", "american-male-voice-actors", "cabaret-singers", "drama-desk-award-winners", "fontbonne-university-alumni", "gay-christians", "lgbtq-people-from-missouri", "lgbtq-roman-catholics", "male-actors-from-st.-louis"] description: "American actor and singer (1954–2024)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Page" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actor and singer (1954–2024) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameKen Page
birth_nameKenneth Page
imageKen Page Photo Op GalaxyCon San Jose 2024.jpg
captionPage at GalaxyCon San Jose in 2024
birth_date
birth_placeSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
death_date
death_placeSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
alma_materFontbonne College
occupation
years_active1973–2024
module{{Infobox musical artist
embedyes
backgroundsolo_singer
instrumentsVocals
genre{{Flat list
labelLML Music
::

| name = Ken Page | birth_name = Kenneth Page | image = Ken Page Photo Op GalaxyCon San Jose 2024.jpg | caption = Page at GalaxyCon San Jose in 2024 | birth_date = | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | alma_mater = Fontbonne College | occupation = | years_active = 1973–2024 | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | background = solo_singer | instruments = Vocals | genre = {{Flat list|

Early life

Kenneth Page was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri on January 20, 1954. 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 theatre. 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 theatre.

Career

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/KenPageByPhilKonstantin.jpg" caption="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.

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

In September 2012, Page explained to the St. Louis Magazine: "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."

Death

Page died in his sleep on September 30, 2024, at the age of 70, at his home in St. Louis.

Filmography

Source:

Film

::data[format=table]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Torch Song TrilogyMurray
1989All Dogs Go to HeavenKing GatorVoice
1993The Nightmare Before ChristmasOogie Boogie
1994I'll Do AnythingHair Person
1998CatsOld DeuteronomyDirect-to-video
2003Shortcut to HappinessClerk
2006DreamgirlsMax Washington
::

Television

::data[format=table]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Gimme a Break!Kenneth WilsonEpisode: "Class of '84"
1987–1988SableJoe "Cheesecake" Tyson6 episodes
1989PollyMayor WarrenTelevision film
Teen Angel ReturnsChubby
1990Family MattersDarnell WatkinsEpisode: "The Big Reunion"
Capital NewsEpisode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
Polly: Comin' Home!Mayor WarrenTelevision film
1993–1994Adventures in WonderlandThe Walrus7 episodes
1994DuckmanAdditional VoicesEpisode: "American Dicks"
South CentralDr. Raymond McHenry3 episodes
1995Touched by an AngelOxEpisode: "There But for the Grace of God"
1998–2005Great PerformancesOld Deuteronomy2 episodes
2000Welcome to New YorkChef AndreEpisode: "Tickets"
2005All Grown Up!Narrator, ManVoice, episode: "Blind Man's Bluff"
2007State of MindFlorian
::

Video games

::data[format=table]

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002Kingdom HeartsOogie Boogie
2004The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
2005The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
2006Kingdom Hearts II
2007Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
2013Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 RemixArchive footage
2014Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
2024Disney SpeedstormPosthumous update release
::

Theatre

Broadway

Off Broadway

Regional

The Muny-St. Louis

Hollywood Bowl

Other

Discography

Singles

  • "Page by Page" (2008)

Soundtrack

::data[format=table]

YearArtist / WriterSongRoleFilm
1989Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster"Let's Make Music Together"King GatorAll Dogs Go to Heaven
1993Danny Elfman"Oogie Boogie's Song"Oogie BoogieThe Nightmare Before Christmas
1997Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster"Let's Make Music Together"King GatorMGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy
1998Andrew 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 DeuteronomyCats
2004Danny Elfman"Oogie's Song"
"Casino Clash"
"A Filthy Finale"Oogie BoogieThe Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
::

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table]

YearAwardCategoryPlayResult
1976Theatre World AwardBest ActorAin't Misbehavin
1978Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a MusicalGuys and Dolls
::

Notes

References

References

  1. [http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/ken-page-41 Ken Page Biography.] The History Makers. April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2019
  2. Kerns, William. (October 15, 2014). "Moonlight Musicals' production of 'Cats' using more professionals". [[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]].
  3. Cooperman, Jeannette. (September 12, 2012). "Kenny Cool: Broadway Actor Ken Page Talks About Joy, Celebrity, and Coming Home Again". [[St. Louis Magazine]].
  4. "Ken Page, Broadway Star of 'The Wiz', 'Ain't Misbehavin'{{'}} & 'Cats' Dies at 70".
  5. Aimee Ortiz. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, Who Starred in 'Cats' and Voiced Oogie Boogie, Dies at 70".
  6. Andrés Buenahora. (October 2, 2024). "Ken Page, Voice of Oogie Boogie and Original Cast Member of Broadway's 'Cats,' Dies at 70".
  7. Greg Evans. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page Dies: Voice Of Oogie Boogie & Broadway's Original Old Deuteronomy In 'Cats' Was 70".
  8. Nardine Saad. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, Who Starred in 'Cats' and Voiced Oogie Boogie, Dies at 70".
  9. Mike Barnes. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, Oogie Boogie in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' Dies at 70".
  10. Brendan Morrow. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Cats' star, dies at 70".
  11. Tommy McArdle. (October 1, 2024). "Broadway Star Ken Page, Voice of Nightmare Before Christmas' Oogie Boogie, Dies at 70".
  12. Kevin E G Perry. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page death: Nightmare Before Christmas star dies at 70".
  13. James Hibbs. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page - the voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas - dies, aged 70".
  14. Shania Russell. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, Broadway star and voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, dies at 70".
  15. Mark Kennedy. (October 1, 2024). "Ken Page, who starred in 'Cats' on Broadway and voiced Oogie Boogie, dies at 70".
  16. Olivia Evans. (October 2, 2024). "Ken Page, Voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, Dead at 70".
  17. "Ken Page".
  18. "Page by Page - Ken Page | Songs, Reviews, Credits". [[AllMusic]].

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1954-births2024-deaths20th-century-african-american-male-singers20th-century-american-lgbtq-people20th-century-american-male-singers20th-century-american-singers21st-century-african-american-male-singers21st-century-american-lgbtq-people21st-century-american-male-singersafrican-american-catholicsafrican-american-lgbtq-peopleafrican-american-male-actorsamerican-cabaret-singersamerican-gay-actorsamerican-lgbtq-singersamerican-male-film-actorsamerican-male-musical-theatre-actorsamerican-male-stage-actorsamerican-male-video-game-actorsamerican-male-voice-actorscabaret-singersdrama-desk-award-winnersfontbonne-university-alumnigay-christianslgbtq-people-from-missourilgbtq-roman-catholicsmale-actors-from-st.-louis