Kenneth Page (January 20, 1954 – September 30, 2024) was an American actor and cabaret singer who created the part of Ken in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin' and played Old Deuteronomy in the original Broadway and filmed stage adaptation of Cats. He voiced Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas franchise and played in the original Broadway production of The Wiz as The Lion and the first Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Ken Page | |
|---|---|
 Page in 2024 | |
| Born | Kenneth Page January 20, 1954 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | September 30, 2024 (aged 70) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Fontbonne College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1973–2024 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | LML Music |
Early life
editKenneth Page was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised Catholic by his mother, Gloria, and his step-father, Garvin Gilstrap. He attended St. Bridget of Erin and St. Nicholas elementary schools. While attending St. Nicholas, he was inspired by a teacher and an older cousin to pursue theatre. He subsequently graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School in 1972. From there he attended Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri, on a full scholarship and majored in theatre.[1]
Career
edit
Page began his career in the chorus of the Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. After making his Broadway debut in The Wiz, he 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. He also returned to the show in its 1988 Broadway revival.[citation needed]
In 1982, Page played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, returning to the part in the 1998 video release. He also played God twice, in Randy Newman's Faust at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodman Theatre and in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden (West End). He frequently acted in shows at The Muny, with appearances including Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, My One and Only, and Little Shop of Horrors.[citation needed]
Besides The Nightmare Before Christmas, Page's major film credits included All Dogs Go to Heaven and Torch Song Trilogy, as well as Dreamgirls. His TV credits included guest roles on shows such as Charmed and Touched by an Angel, as well as various films and specials.[citation needed]
In later years, Page developed and performed his cabaret-singer show, Page by Page, and directed various regional and touring productions. He was the voice of the notorious talking plant Audrey II in the Muny's production of Little Shop of Horrors. He also reprised the role of Old Deuteronomy in the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals production of Cats in Lubbock, Texas.[2]
Page regularly reprised his role as Oogie Boogie in several other Disney productions such as the fireworks display HalloWishes at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, its sister show, Halloween Screams at Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion Holiday (also at Disneyland), the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (at Magic Kingdom) and subsequent video games including The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge and the Kingdom Hearts series.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
editPage once explained: "I'm not closeted, never have been to my knowledge. But 'gay' means so many different things to people." He advised others: "Be careful. I understand, believe me – because I fought for your label. But don't define yourself by the label you put on yourself."[3]
Page died in his sleep on September 30, 2024, at the age of 70, at his home in St. Louis.[4]
Filmography
editSource:[5][additional citation(s) needed]
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Torch Song Trilogy | Murray | |
| 1989 | All Dogs Go to Heaven | King Gator | Voice |
| 1993 | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Oogie Boogie | |
| 1994 | I'll Do Anything | Hair Person | |
| 1998 | Cats | Old Deuteronomy | Direct-to-video |
| 2003 | Shortcut to Happiness | Clerk | |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Max Washington |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Gimme a Break! | Kenneth Wilson | Episode: "Class of '84" |
| 1987–1988 | Sable | Joe "Cheesecake" Tyson | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Polly | Mayor Warren | Television film |
| Teen Angel Returns | Chubby | ||
| 1990 | Family Matters | Darnell Watkins | Episode: "The Big Reunion" |
| Capital News | Episode: "Finished? Not Dunne" | ||
| Polly: Comin' Home! | Mayor Warren | Television film | |
| 1993–1994 | Adventures in Wonderland | The Walrus | 7 episodes |
| 1994 | Duckman | Additional Voices | Episode: "American Dicks" |
| South Central | Dr. Raymond McHenry | 3 episodes | |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Ox | Episode: "There But for the Grace of God" |
| 1998–2005 | Great Performances | Old Deuteronomy | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Welcome to New York | Chef Andre | Episode: "Tickets" |
| 2005 | All Grown Up! | Narrator, Man | Voice, episode: "Blind Man's Bluff" |
| 2007 | State of Mind | Florian |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kingdom Hearts | Oogie Boogie | |
| 2004 | The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge | ||
| 2005 | The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King | ||
| 2006 | Kingdom Hearts II | ||
| 2007 | Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix | ||
| 2013 | Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix | Archive footage | |
| 2014 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | ||
| 2024 | Disney Speedstorm | Posthumous update release |
Theatre
editBroadway
edit- 1975: The Wiz as The Lion
- 1976: Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
- 1978: Ain't Misbehavin' as Ken
- 1982: Cats as Old Deuteronomy
- 1988: Ain't Misbehavin' as Ken
- 1999: It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues as Performer
Off Broadway
edit- 1981: Louis as Joe "King" Oliver
- 1995: Call Me Madam as Senator Gallagher
- 1995: Out of this World as Jupiter
- 1998: The Wizard of Oz as The Cowardly Lion
- 2002: The Pajama Game as Mr. Hassler
Regional
edit- 1981: Damn Yankees as Van Buren (with Dick Van Dyke and Don Most)
- 1995: Randy Newman's Faust as the Lord
- 1996: Randy Newman's Faust as the Lord
- 2003: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical as Old Max
- 2004: Breakfast at Tiffany's as Joe Bell
- 2006: Aida as Amonasro
- 2011: Grumpy Old Men: The Musical as Chuck
- 2014: Cats as Old Deuteronomy
- 2019: Grumpy Old Men: The Musical as Chuck
The Muny-St. Louis
edit- 1973: South Pacific as Stewpot
- 1973: Fiddler on the Roof as Chaim / Fruma Sarah (legs)
- 1974: Bitter Sweet as Ensemble
- 1994: Ain't Misbehavin' as Ken
- 1995: Camelot as King Pellinore
- 1996: Sleeping Beauty as the voice of Wendell
- 1997: The Wizard of Oz as Zeke/The Cowardly Lion
- 1998: Radio City Rockettes MUNY Spectacular as Ensemble
- 1998: Damn Yankees as Mgr. Van Buren
- 1999: Grease as Teen Angel
- 2001: My Fair Lady as Colonel Pickering
- 2002: The Fantasticks as Bellomy
- 2004: Cats as Old Deuteronomy
- 2004: Breakfast at Tiffany's as Joe
- 2005: Jesus Christ Superstar as King Herod
- 2005: Beauty and the Beast as Maurice/Narrator
- 2006: The Wizard of Oz as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz
- 2006: Oliver! as Mr. Bumble
- 2006: Aida as Amonasro
- 2007: Les Misérables as Monsieur Thénardier
- 2008: My One and Only as Rt. Rev. J.D. Montgomery
- 2008: 90 Years of Muny Magic as Principal
- 2010: Cats as Old Deuteronomy
- 2010: Beauty and the Beast as Maurice/Narrator
- 2011: The Little Mermaid as King Triton
- 2011: Little Shop of Horrors as the voice of Audrey II
- 2012: Dreamgirls as Marty
- 2012: Aladdin as Sultan
- 2013: West Side Story as Doc
- 2014: Tarzan as Porter
- 2015: Into the Woods as The Narrator
- 2016: Aida as Amonasro
- 2018: Meet Me in St. Louis as Grandpa Prophater
- 2019: Guys and Dolls as Arvide Abernathy
- 2023: West Side Story as Doc
- 2024: Les Misérables as The Bishop of Digne
Hollywood Bowl
edit- 2009: Guys and Dolls in Concert as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
- 2018: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie
- 2019: The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience as Sebastian
Other
edit- 1979: Ain't Misbehavin' as Performer 4 (US Tour)
- 1991: Children of Eden as Father/God (West End)
- 1995: Anyone Can Whistle as Police Chief Magruder (Carnegie Hall)
- 1997: A Christmas Carol as Ghost of Christmas Present/Sandwichboard Man (Madison Square Garden)
- 2021: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie (BMO Stadium)
- 2022: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie (Wembley Arena)
Discography
editSingles
edit- "Page by Page" (2008)[6]
Soundtrack
edit| Year | Artist / Writer | Song | Role | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster | "Let's Make Music Together" | King Gator | All Dogs Go to Heaven |
| 1993 | Danny Elfman | "Oogie Boogie's Song" | Oogie Boogie | The Nightmare Before Christmas |
| 1997 | Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster | "Let's Make Music Together" | King Gator | MGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy |
| 1998 | Andrew Lloyd Webber & T.S. Eliot | "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" "Old Deuteronomy" "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" "The Jellicle Ball" "The Moments of Happiness" "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" "The Ad-dressing of Cats" |
Old Deuteronomy | Cats |
| 2004 | Danny Elfman | "Oogie's Song" "Casino Clash" "A Filthy Finale" |
Oogie Boogie | The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Play | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Theatre World Award | Best Actor | Ain't Misbehavin | Won |
| 1978 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Guys and Dolls | Won |
References
edit- ^ Ken Page Biography. The History Makers. April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2019
- ^ Kerns, William (15 October 2014). "Moonlight Musicals' production of 'Cats' using more professionals". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Cooperman, Jeannette (12 September 2012). "Kenny Cool: Broadway Actor Ken Page Talks About Joy, Celebrity, and Coming Home Again". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Ken Page, Broadway Star of 'The Wiz', 'Ain't Misbehavin & 'Cats' Dies at 70". Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ "Ken Page". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ "Page by Page - Ken Page | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
External links
edit
- Ken Page at IMDb
- Ken Page at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ken Page at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Ken Page discography at Discogs
