St. 不良研究所导航网址 native and stage actor Ken Page died Monday, Sept. 30, his longtime friend and producer Dorian Hannaway announced today. A representative for Page told USA Today the actor 鈥減assed away very peacefully at his home鈥 in St. 不良研究所导航网址 at 70 years old.
Best known for his role as the lion in the hit musical 鈥淭he Wiz鈥 and as the voice of Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton鈥檚 鈥淭he Nightmare Before Christmas,鈥 Page was born and raised in St. 不良研究所导航网址, graduating from Bishop DuBourg High School. He went on to attend Fontbonne College studying theater on a full scholarship before going on to pursue a lifelong career as an actor.
Page spent ample time performing at the Muny during his tenure as a stage actor. He performed in over 45 shows on the Muny stage, most recently as the Bishop of Digne in the theater鈥檚 production of 鈥淟es Mis茅rables鈥 in June. Muny CEO Kwofe Coleman said he can鈥檛 imagine the Muny without Page. He says Page leaves an indelible mark on the theater. He was supposed to perform in 鈥淲aitress,鈥 but had to cancel weeks before.
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鈥淜en Page 鈥 through his excellence, his poise, and above all his remarkable spirit 鈥 was so much more than an icon,鈥 Coleman said. 鈥淗e cared deeply for his work but valued most the people who had the gift of knowing him.鈥
Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson describes Page鈥檚 death as a 鈥減rofound, painful loss.鈥 He says Page was a meaningful component of the Muny鈥檚 history. Most of all, Isaacson says, Page was a friend who meant everything to him.
鈥淥n this sad day, I hold onto the memory of his last role on our stage: the bishop in 鈥淟es Mis茅rables,鈥 a gentle man who asks us to live in kindness and forgiveness and to find a higher purpose as we journey through life,鈥 Isaacson says. 鈥淭hat was the gift Ken also gave everyone in his life, and I鈥檓 forever grateful for the many ways he gave it to me.鈥
Page lent his acting and vocal talents to numerous memorable films and theater productions. He played Old Deuteronomy in the stage play 鈥淐ats,鈥 returning to star in the 1998 film adaption of the play. He also starred in 鈥淎in鈥檛 Misbehavin鈥 and 鈥淕uys and Dolls鈥 as well as roles in TV shows including 鈥淭ouched by an Angel鈥 and 鈥淔amily Matters.鈥