Entertainment
Ken Page, who starred in ‘Cats’ on Broadway and voiced Oogie Boogie, dies at 70
NEW YORK (AP) – Ken Page, the stage and film actor who played alongside him Beyoncé in “Dreamgirls” introduced Broadway audiences to Old Deuteronomy v “Cats” and scared generations of kids when the voice of Oogie Boogie, the villain from the 1993 animated holiday movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” died. He was 70 years old.
Talent agent Todd M. Eskin of ATB Talent Agency announced the artist’s death to The Associated Press on Tuesday, but no details were provided.
“He was quite simply one of the best and most generous souls I know. Full of life and filled with joy. Talented and then some. “Ken, my friend, you will be greatly missed,” wrote writer-producer Tim Burton in X.
Page made his Broadway debut in “The Wiz” because the Cowardly Lion and then took on the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in “Guys and Dolls” with Robert Guillaume. He also appeared in the unique forged of Fats Waller’s musical Ain’t Misbehavin, winning a Drama Desk Award, and was on board when the musical returned to Broadway in 1988.
Page originated the role of the sensible Old Deuteronomy when “Cats” landed on Broadway in 1982 and achieved a then-record performance singing “Old Deuteronomy,” “The Moments of Happiness” and “The Ad-Dressing of Cats.”
Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella on Cats and reprized the role in the 1998 film version of Cats, paid tribute to her X co-star, saying Page had “moved on to the heavyweight layer” and added: “He was a wonderful, kind and talented man.”
In 2010, Page revisited the Old Book of Deuteronomy at the Muny, a community theater association in St. Louis — and St. Louis critic. Louis Post-Dispatch said, “Emerging from a gentle presence, Page acts as a feline spirit guide to the hilt,” adding, “Maybe no one will bow to a kitten while chanting ‘OH CAT,’ but Page can make it at least look over you’ll think about it.”
Page can have made his best impression because the voice of Oogie Boogie, a burlap sack with lots of of bugs crawling inside, in Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” His character hoped to develop into the King of the Seven Christmases by kidnapping the Christmas (*70*) for the remaining holidays. “It’s hopeless/you’re done/you don’t have a prayer/’cause I’m Mr. Oogie Boogie/and you’re not going anywhere,” he sang to Santa.
He then reprized his role as Oogie Boogie, including: in video games and at the film’s thirtieth anniversary concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023. He also provided the voice of King Gator in the 1989 Disney animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven.
His other movies include 1988’s “Torch Song Trilogy,” in which he played the witty drag queen Murray, and 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” in which he played Max Washington. His television shows include “Family Matters,” “Touched by an Angel” and “Maleficent.”