Ken Page, the voice of Oogie Boogie from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ has passed away at 70
Ken Page, a talented stage performer famed for his roles in productions like “Cats” and as the voice of Oogie Boogie in the beloved animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” has died at the age of 70.
A representative for Page confirmed to YSL News that he “passed away very peacefully at his home” located in St. Louis.
“He just sat down in his chair and went to sleep, and that was it,” the representative shared. “He was a remarkable and talented individual who had a larger-than-life presence. Ken was cherished by many and will be deeply missed.”
Throughout his theater career, Page portrayed the Lion in “The Wiz” and Old Deuteronomy in “Cats.” He also appeared in the 1998 video version of “Cats” and had notable roles in “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Guys and Dolls,” among other theatrical works.
Fans of Disney will remember Page as the voice behind Oogie Boogie, the antagonist in the 1993 animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” produced by Tim Burton. Following its release, Page continued to lend his voice to Oogie Boogie in various adaptations, including in the “Kingdom Hearts” video game series and at Disney theme parks.
“I have voiced Oogie Boogie since the beginning, and I’m still doing it today,” Page said in a 2019 interview with Disney Parks, mentioning that fans appreciate Oogie Boogie because he is seen as a “lovable” villain.
“He’s not the type of villain that truly terrifies you; instead, he’s entertaining and enjoys being bad,” Page explained. “That’s what makes him appealing.”
In addition to his iconic role as Oogie Boogie, Page voiced King Gator in “All Dogs Go to Heaven” and appeared in the musical movie “Dreamgirls.” He also had television roles in series like “Family Matters” and “Touched by an Angel,” according to IMDb.
The loss of Page is another heartbreak for the theater community, which recently mourned the loss of Gavin Creel, a Tony-winning Broadway actor who died on Monday at the age of 48 from a rare form of cancer.