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Ken Page, a Broadway prima who voiced Oogie Boogie successful Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, has died. He was 70.
By Olivia Evans Oct 02, 2024 12:54 PMTags
In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2024
The theatre satellite is mourning the nonaccomplishment of an iconic star.
Ken Page, a Broadway histrion who besides voiced the villain Oogie Boogie successful Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, has “passed distant precise peacefully astatine his home,” successful St. Louis, a rep for the performer confirmed to USA Today Oct. 1. He was 70.
“He sat down successful his seat and went to slumber and that was it,” the rep told the publication. “He was a beautiful, talented antheral who was larger than life. Ken was loved and adored by truthful galore and volition beryllium missed truthful much.”
In summation to his on-stage roles successful Broadway productions similar Cats, The Wiz and the 1976 all-Black revival of Guys and Dolls, Page’s astir recognizable relation is his dependable successful the iconic Burton Halloween film. Since its 1993 release, Page continued to dependable Oogie Boogie successful assorted franchises for The Nightmare Before Christmas, including for a video crippled franchise arsenic Disney parks.
His friend, Dorian Hannaway, told the New York Times that he’d adjacent been preparing for much appearances arsenic Oogie Boogie starring up to his death. She emphasized that her precocious person “loved” playing the villainous container of bugs.
Despite his recognizable dependable acting gig, Page’s show arsenic Old Deuteronomy successful the archetypal Broadway accumulation of Cats cemented his bequest successful the theatre world. In summation to his relation successful Burton’s film, Page appeared alongside Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson successful the 2006 movie Dreamgirls, arsenic good arsenic voicing King Gator in All Dogs Go To Heaven.
Page was highly dedicated to his on-stage career, and adjacent took his past $500 of savings to determination to New York from St. Louis to prosecute his Broadway dreams, helium told The New York Times in 1984. Throughout his tenure, helium received accolades specified arsenic Lifetime Achievement Awards from the St. Louis Art Center and the NYC Manhattan Association of Cabarets.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Early successful his career, helium listed Tina Turner and Lionel Richie arsenic immoderate of his philharmonic inspirations, for the former’s “excitement” and the latter’s polished energy.
As helium told the New York Times of his ain performance, “Where I privation to spell is determination betwixt the two."
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