Quick Facts
| Intro | American actor | ||
| Is | Actor Singer Dancer Musician Voice actor Comedian Television actor Stage actor | ||
| From | United States of America | ||
| Field | Dancing Film, TV, Stage & Radio Humor Music | ||
| Gender | male | ||
| Birth | 20 January 1954, St. Louis, USA | ||
| Age | 69 years | ||
| Star sign | Aquarius | ||
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Biography
Kenneth Page (born January 20, 1954) 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 eponymous 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 (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. 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 (West End). 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 (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.
Personal life
In a 2015 interview with St. Louis Magazine, Page said that he identifies as gay.
Discography
- Page by Page (2008)
Theatre
Broadway
- 1975: The Wiz as 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
- 1981: Louis as Joe "King" Olivor
- 1995: Call Me Madam as Senator Gallagher
- 1995: Out of this World as Jupiter
- 1998: The Wizard of Oz as Cowardly Lion
- 2002: The Pajama Game as Mr. Hassler
Regional
- 2003: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 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
- 1994: "Ain't Misbehavin'" as Ken
- 1995: "Camelot" as King Pellinore
- 1996: "Sleeping Beauty" voice of Wendell
- 1997: "The Wizard of Oz" as Zeke/Lion
- 1998: "Radio City Rockettes MUNY Spectacular" 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
- 2006: "Oliver!" as Mr. Bumble
- 2006: "Aida" as Amonasro
- 2007: "Les Misérables" as Thenardier
- 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" 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 Narrator
- 2016: "Aida (musical)" as Amonasro
- 2018: "Meet Me in St. Louis" as Grandpa Prophater
- 2019: "Guys and Dolls" (musical) as Arvide Abernathy
Other
- 1979: Ain't Misbehavin' as Performer 4 (US Tour)
- 1991: Children of Eden as Father/God (West End)
- 2018: The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl as Oogie Boogie
- 2019: The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience as Sebastian
Soundtrack
| 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
| 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 |
