Broadway veteran Ken Page voices terrifying villain Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s production The nightmare before christmasHe died Monday at his home in St. Louis, his representative said. He is 70 years old.
In his Broadway debut, Page played the lion as an understudy in the original 1975-79 production of “Lion.” wizard.
The baritone also played the role of Old Deuteronomy in the original version of “Old Deuteronomy” in 1982. cat;Starring in the original Broadway production of “Fats Waller’s” 1978-82 Not misbehaving;and played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1976-77 All Blacks revival man and dolla turn that earned him a Drama World Award.
Page’s performance as Oogie Boogie, the bug-filled Boogeyman, is unforgettable. The nightmare before christmas (1993), directed by Henry Selick.
In a 2022 interview, he said producers were looking for “someone like Cab Calloway, like Fats Waller.” He added that he thought the character was “somewhere between the voice of the devil.” The Exorcist and the cowardly lion The Wizard of Oz”.
He later voiced Oogie Boogie in video games and Disney theme park attractions.
Oogie Boogie (right, voiced by Ken Page) in 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Buena Vista Photos/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kenneth Page was born in St. Louis on January 20, 1954, and attended Bishop DuBourg High School. He then majored in theater at Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri.
He played Joe “Cheesecake” Tyson on the 1987-88 ABC series sable.
His resume also includes movies Torch Song Trilogy (1988), All dogs go to heaven (1989) — as the voice of the Crocodile King — i will do anything (1994) and dream girl (2006) as well as guest appearances such as Charmed and Touched by an angel.
Most recently, Page developed and starred in a cabaret show, page by page. He frequently appears in plays at St. Louis’ historic amphitheater, The Muny.
