Ken Page, the accomplished Broadway actor and voice of Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, has died at the age of 70.
News of Page’s passing was first reported by several of his close friends, including former Late Show director Dorian Hannaway and actress Shari Belafonte, and was subsequently confirmed by BroadwayWorld. According to Hannaway, Page “passed quietly and peacefully at his home.”
In Burton’s classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, Page voiced The Oogie Boogie Man, the film’s main antagonist. Page later reprised the character in several live-to-film performances of the movie staged by composer Danny Elfman.
On Broadway, Page notably portrayed Old Deuteronomy in the original production of Cats, and The Lion in the original production of The Wiz. He also starred as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls.
A native of St. Louis, Page spent the later part of his career taking on roles at the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre, including in productions of West Side Story, Les Misérables, and Waitress.
