Ken Page, Broadway star and voice of Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, dies at 70

Ken Page, the veteran Broadway actor who originated roles in Cats and Ain’t Misbehavin’, and is also known for contributing his instantly-recognizable voice to The Nightmare Before Christmas, has died. He was 70.

A representative for Page confirmed his death Entertainment Weekly. The actor’s longtime friend, producer Dorian Hannaway, was the first to announce the news of his Sept. 30 death, writing on social media, “Ken Page has passed onto the next show. My heart is broken.”

Danny Elfman, who composed the music for The Nightmare Before Christmas and provided vocals for the musical’s lead character, shared a tribute to Page on social media. 

“I’m still stunned by last night’s terrible news,” he began the Tuesday X post. “Ken Page died suddenly. He was the one and only Oggie Boogie Man. He was simply one of the best, most generous souls I know. Full of life and overflowing with joy. Talented and then some. Ken, my friend, you will be deeply missed.”

Born Kenneth Page in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 20, 1954, Page began his pursuit of the arts as an elementary school student, inspired by his teacher and an elder cousin. He went on to attend Fontbonne College on a full scholarship, where he majored in theater. During his time at the school, Page landed his first paid gig as an ensemble member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny). He participated in productions of South Pacific and Man of La Mancha in his first year and was selected again, performing in Bitter Sweet, Fiddler on the Roof, and Take Me Along, which featured Gene Kelly. 

After graduation, Page relocated to New York in 1974, where he began performing with the Fanfare Children's Ensemble, Amas Repertory Theatre and the Henry Street Settlement. He made his Broadway debut in 1976, starring in an all-Black revival of Guys and Dolls. The following year he would understudy and eventually play the role of the Cowardly Lion in the original Broadway production of The Wiz.

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His success would continue in 1978, when Page featured as an original cast member in the Fats Waller musical Ain't Misbehavin'. He was awarded the Drama Desk Award for his performance in the cabaret-style show and would reprise his role for an NBC television special and the 1988 revival.

In 1982, Page originated the role of Old Deuteronomy in the first Broadway production of Cats, which he would repeat for a PBS version of the musical. 

While Page favored the stage, he did make several onscreen appearances in such films as Torch Song Trilogy, All Dogs Go to Heaven, I'll Do Anything, Shortcut to Happiness and Dreamgirls. Most notable among them was voicing Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the cult classic stop-motion Disney film from Tim Burton and director Henry Selick.

Page spoke often and fondly of the movie which he once described as an ideal story for those who feel they don’t fit in.

“It really fills my heart to see these people, that, you know when you’re sitting there, out there in the world it’s probably hard for them to fit in anywhere. But this project, they come and they're dressed and they do their thing and it gives them a home,” Page told CT Insider last year for the film’s 30th anniversary. “It gives them an identity and they belong to this huge club of Nightmare Before Christmas fans. Therefore, if they’re not accepted over there, they have this huge worldwide group they belong to which makes them feel wanted and accepted. What can be better than that.”

Page also appeared in such TV shows as Family Matters, South Central, and Touched by an Angel. In his later years, Page developed a cabaret show, titled Page by Page, which he toured across the country. Prior to his death, he returned to The Muny for 2024 productions of Les Miserables and Waitress.