Voice of Oogie Boogie, Ken Page is dead

Ken Page, a celebrated voice actor and Broadway star, has passed away at the age of 70, as confirmed by his representative, Lance Kirkland. Page died peacefully in his sleep at his home in St. Louis on Monday, September 30.

Kirkland shared with TMZ that Ken was found sitting in his chair, having “passed away very peacefully.” He described Ken as “a beautiful, talented man who was larger than life,” adding that he was “loved and adored by so many and will be missed so much.”

The heartbreaking news was initially shared by Page’s friend, Dorian Hannaway, on Facebook, who expressed her sorrow by stating that Ken had “passed onto the next show,” which left her with a “broken heart.”

Tributes began pouring in from friends and colleagues, including actress Shari Belafonte, who remembered Ken as “one of the sweetest, most talented guys on the planet.”

Ken Page was widely known for his iconic role as the villainous Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s beloved animated musical, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which has become a seasonal favorite during both Halloween and Christmas.

His illustrious career extended beyond voice acting; he appeared in notable television shows such as “Family Matters” and films like “All Dogs Go to Heaven.” His Broadway legacy is equally significant, with memorable performances including the Lion in the original 1975 production of “The Wiz,” Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1976 revival of “Guys and Dolls,” and Old Deuteronomy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” in 1982.

Ken’s passing marks a significant loss in the entertainment industry, occurring on the same day that another Broadway luminary, Gavin Creel, succumbed to a battle with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.