Ken Page

Ken Page (born January 20, 1954) is an American cabaret singer, actor and voice actor from St. Louis, Missouri. Page is best known as the voice of "Oogie Boogie", the main antagonist of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, creating the eponymous role of "Ken" in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin' and playing the role of "Old Deuteronomy" in both the original Broadway and filmed stage productions of Cats, the Musical.

Early life

Page was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Bishop DuBourg High School and Fontbonne College.

Career

Ken Page began his career in the chorus of The Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. After making his Broadway debut in The Wiz, Page 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. (Page returned to the show in its 1988 Broadway revival.) In 1982, he played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, returning to the part in the 1998 video release. He also has the distinction of playing God twice: in Randy Newman's Faust at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodman Theatre and in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden (West End). Page frequently acts in shows at The Muny, with recent appearances including Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, My One and Only, and Little Shop of Horrors.