It has just been announced that Ken Page, best known as a Broadway legend, has passed at the age of 70.
It has been revealed that the actor, who iconically voiced the character Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas, has ‘passed onto the next show’
Page’s friend, producer Dorian Hannaway announced on Facebook: ‘Ken Page has passed onto the next show. My Heart is broken.’
The beloved actor was best known for starring in the musical Cats, and played the character Old Deuteronomy in both the original Broadway and filmed stage productions of Cats.
The star also played The Lion in the original Broadway production of The Wiz and was in the cast for the first revival of Guys and Dolls on Broadway – in which he played Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Page also had several TV roles on shows including Adventures in Wonderland, South Central, and Great Performances.
Tributes to the late great actor have already begun pouring in from fans and former castmembers who praised Page’s work and remembered him fondly.
BBC Radio 2 Presenter and stage actress Elaine Page penned: ‘My wonderful Old Deuteronomy, KenPage, in the 1998 theatrical movie version of@CatsMusical, has gone to the heaviside layer. We certainly are having a sad September. He was a lovely, kind, talented man. RIP Ken.’
In a post on Facebook, fellow actor Shari Belafonte revealed that she ‘couldn’t believe’ the news that the actor had passed.
‘Ken Page One of the sweetest, most talented guys on the planet. Dorian Hannaway just posted that he’s left us. And, I couldn’t believe it… but it’s true.
‘It feels like it’s coming just a bit too fast and a tad too furiously now… James Earl, Dame Maggie, Kris, Pete Rose, Dikembe, Officer Taggert/John Ashton, Drake H… and now Ken. RIP ALL of you. Heaven is packing it in right now with brilliant talent stepping off that First Class charter…’ she said in a heartfelt post.
‘My heart hurts from all this loss. KenPage was a force every time he got on a stage. I got to see him play Oogie Boogie live three times at the Hollywood Bowl and every occasion, he dropped a wickedly entertaining performance. Nightmare won’t be the same without him. RIP,’ said dnebster on X.
Another fan, theloveforhorr1, commented: ‘Heart breaking news about Ken Page’s passing. His voice of Oogie Boogie will forever be engraved in my head.’