Ken Page facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Page
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Ken Page at the 2017 Florida SuperCon
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Kenneth Page
January 20, 1954 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | September 30, 2024 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Fontbonne College |
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| Years active | 1973–2024 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | LML Music |
Ken Page (born January 20, 1954 – died September 30, 2024) was an American actor and singer. He was famous for his powerful voice and stage presence. Ken Page created the role of "Ken" in the original Broadway show Ain't Misbehavin'. He also played "Old Deuteronomy" in the original Broadway show and the movie version of Cats. Many people know Ken Page as the voice of Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas movies and games. He also played The Lion in the first Broadway show of The Wiz.
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Early Life and Education
Kenneth Page was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. His mother, Gloria, and step-father, Garvin Gilstrap, raised him. He went to St. Bridget of Erin and St. Nicholas elementary schools. At St. Nicholas, a teacher and an older cousin inspired him to try acting.
He finished Bishop DuBourg High School in 1972. After high school, he went to Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri. He studied theater there on a full scholarship.
Ken Page's Acting Career
Ken Page started his acting career in the chorus at The Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. He made his first appearance on Broadway in the musical The Wiz. Later, he played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in a Broadway show called Guys and Dolls.
He was also part of the first cast of the musical Ain't Misbehavin'. He played the same role in a TV version of the show in 1982. In 1982, he took on the role of Old Deuteronomy in the famous musical Cats. He played this part again in the 1998 video version of Cats.
Ken Page also had the special chance to play God twice! He played God in Randy Newman's Faust and in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden in London. He often performed in shows at The Muny theater. These shows included Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, The Wizard of Oz, and Les Misérables.
Film and TV Roles
Besides The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ken Page was in other movies. These included All Dogs Go to Heaven and Torch Song Trilogy. He also appeared in the movie Dreamgirls.
On TV, he had guest roles in shows like Charmed and Touched by an Angel. He also appeared in different TV movies and specials.
Voice Acting and Later Work
Ken Page was well-known for his voice acting. He was the voice of the scary but fun character Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas. He played this role many times in other Disney projects. These included fireworks shows like HalloWishes and Halloween Screams. He also voiced Oogie Boogie in video games such as The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge, and the Kingdom Hearts series.
In his later years, Ken Page created his own singing show called Page by Page. He also directed different theater shows that toured around the country. He even voiced the talking plant Audrey II in a production of Little Shop of Horrors at The Muny.
Theatre Performances
Ken Page had a long and successful career on stage. Here are some of his notable roles:
Broadway Shows
- 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
Other Stage Roles
- 1991: Children of Eden as Father/God in London's West End
- 1995: Randy Newman's Faust as the Lord
- 2003: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical as Old Max
- 2018: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert as Oogie Boogie
Discography
Ken Page also released music and sang on movie soundtracks.
Singles
- Page by Page (2008)
Soundtrack Appearances
- 1989: "Let's Make Music Together" as King Gator in All Dogs Go to Heaven
- 1993: "Oogie Boogie's Song" as Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 1998: Songs like "Old Deuteronomy" from Cats
- 2004: "Oogie's Song" as Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
Awards and Recognition
Ken Page received awards for his amazing performances.
- 1976: Theatre World Award for Best Actor in Ain't Misbehavin (Won)
- 1978: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical in Guys and Dolls (Won)
See also
In Spanish: Ken Page para niños
