Ken Page


Kenneth Page is an American actor and cabaret singer. Page is best known as the voice of Oogie Boogie, the main antagonist in The Nightmare Before Christmas, and King Gator from All Dogs Go to Heaven. He also created the role of "Ken" in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin', and played the role of "Old Deuteronomy" in both the original Broadway and filmed stage productions of Cats.

Early life

Kenneth Page was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He was raised 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 theater. He subsequently graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School in 1973. From there he attended Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri on a full scholarship and majored in theater.

Career

Page began his career in the chorus of The Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. After making his Broadway debut in The Wiz, Page played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls. He was then featured in the original cast of the Fats Waller musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin, a role he reprised in the 1982 television broadcast. He also returned to the show in its 1988 Broadway revival. In 1982, he played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, returning to the part in the 1998 video release. He also has the distinction of playing God twice: in Randy Newman's Faust at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodman Theatre and in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden. Page frequently acts 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.
Besides The Nightmare Before Christmas, Page's major film credits include All Dogs Go to Heaven and Torch Song Trilogy, as well as Dreamgirls. His TV credits include guest roles on shows such as Charmed and Touched by an Angel, as well as various movies and specials.
In later years, Page has developed and performed his cabaret-singer show, Page by Page, and directed various regional and touring productions. Page 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 Moonlight Theater production of Cats in Lubbock, TX.
He regularly reprises 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, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and subsequent video games including ', and the Kingdom Hearts'' series.

Personal life

In a 2015 interview with St. Louis Magazine, Page said that he identifies as gay.

Discography

;Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Torch Song TrilogyMurray
1989All Dogs Go to HeavenKing GatorVoice
1993The Nightmare Before ChristmasOogie BoogieVoice
1994I'll Do AnythingHair Person
1998CatsOld DeuteronomyDirect-to-video
2004The Devil and Daniel WebsterClerk
2006DreamgirlsMax Washington

;Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Gimme a Break!Kenneth WilsonEpisode: "Class of '84"
1987–1988SableJoe "Cheesecake" TysonEpisodes: "Toy Gun"
"Hunt"
"Evangelist"
"Serial Killer"
"Copycat"
"Watchdogs"
"Mob"
1989PollyMayor Warren
1989Teen Angel ReturnsChubby
1990Family MattersDarnell WatkinsEpisode: "The Big Reunion"
1990Capital NewsEpisode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
1990'Mayor WarrenTV movie
1993–1994Adventures in WonderlandThe WalrusEpisodes: "I Am the Walrus"
"Weed Shall Overcome"
"To Tear is Human"
"Give Ants a Chance"
"Purple Potato Eaters"
"Those Tusks, Those Eyes"
1994'Additional voicesEpisode: "American Dicks"
1994South CentralDr. Raymond McHenryEpisodes: "RTD"
"Men"
"Date"
1995Touched by an AngelOxEpisode: "There But for the Grace of God"
1998–2005Great PerformancesOld DeuteronomyEpisodes: "Cats"
"Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of the Tony Awards"
2005All Grown Up!Narrator, ManVoice; episode: "Blind Man's Bluff"
2000Welcome to New YorkChef AndreEpisode: "Tickets"
2007State of MindFlorian

;Video games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2002Kingdom HeartsOogie Boogie
2004'Oogie Boogie
2005'Oogie Boogie
2006Kingdom Hearts IIOogie Boogie
2007Oogie Boogie
2013Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 RemixOogie Boogie Archive footage
2014Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 RemixOogie Boogie Archive footage

Theatre

Broadway

Off Broadway

Regional

The Muny-St. Louis

Other

YearArtist / WriterSongRoleFilm
1989Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster"Let's Make Music TogetherKing GatorAll Dogs Go to Heaven
1993Danny Elfman"Oogie Boogie's Song"Oogie BoogieThe Nightmare Before Christmas
1997Charles Strouse & T.J. Kuenster"Let's Make Music Together"King GatorMGM Sing-Alongs: Being Happy
1998Andrew 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 DeuteronomyCats
2004Danny Elfman"Oogie's Song"
"Casino Clash"
"A Filthy Finale"		Oogie Boogie

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryPlayResult
1976Theatre World AwardBest ActorAin't Misbehavin
1978Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a MusicalGuys and Dolls