Wiki: Ken Page - upcScavenger

Kenneth Page (January 20, 1954 – September 30, 2024) was an American actor and cabaret singer who created the part of Ken in the original Broadway theatre 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 and Kingdom Hearts franchises, and played in the original Broadway production of The Wiz as Cowardly 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 Church 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. Ken Page Biography. The History Makers. April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2019

Career

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 , and the Kingdom Hearts series.

Personal life and death

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."

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

Filmography

Source:

Film

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

Television

1984	Gimme a Break!	Kenneth Wilson	Episode: "Class of '84"
1987–1988	Sable	Joe "Cheesecake" Tyson	6 episodes
1989	Polly	Mayor Warren	Television film
1989	Teen Angel Returns	Chubby
1990	Family Matters	Darnell Watkins	Episode: "The Big Reunion"
	Capital News		Episode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
		Mayor Warren	Television film
1993–1994	Adventures in Wonderland	The Walrus	7 episodes
1994	Duckman	Additional Voices	Episode: "American Dicks"
1994	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

2002	Kingdom Hearts	Oogie Boogie
2004
2005
2006	Kingdom Hearts II
2007
2013	Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix		Archive footage
2014	Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix		Archive footage
2024	Disney Speedstorm		Posthumous update release

2009: Guys and Dolls in Concert as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
2018: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie
2019: as Sebastian

Other

1979: Ain't Misbehavin' as Performer 4 (US Tour)
1991: Children of Eden as Father/God (West End)
1995: Anyone Can Whistle as Police Chief Magruder (Carnegie Hall)
1997: A Christmas Carol as Ghost of Christmas Present/Sandwichboard Man (Madison Square Garden)
2021: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie (BMO Stadium)
2022: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie (Wembley Arena)