“As a long-time aficionado of the silver screen and a devoted fan of all things spooky, Ken Page’s demise has left me feeling like Jack Skellington lost on Halloween: utterly confused and disheartened. His portrayal of Oogie Boogie was not just a performance, but an experience that transcended the boundaries of a villainous role in a stop-motion movie.
Fans are finding it hard to embrace the spooky season as Ken Page, famous for his role as the villainous Oogie Boogie in a popular Halloween film, has sadly passed away at the age of 70. His representatives confirmed the news on Monday, and since then, social media has been flooded with expressions of love and tributes.
Back in 1993, I was already a well-established and cherished figure on stage and screen when I stepped into the role of Oogie Boogie. This character, filled with bugs and menacing as the boogeyman of Halloween Town, captured the hearts of an entire generation, including mine. With my unique “Oogie Boogie’s Song,” I used my deep voice to bring life to the amusingly eerie Broadway-style number, a performance that truly shone in the film. One of the first to acknowledge my work was none other than the genius behind that song, Danny Elfman himself.
Following the widespread announcement of his passing, fans took to social media to express their condolences, often referencing Ken Page’s iconic role as Oogie Boogie as their favorite memory. A Twitter user succinctly captured the sentiments of many when they wrote, “My heart aches from all this sorrow. Ken Page was always electrifying whenever he performed. I had the privilege of seeing him play Oogie Boogie live at the Hollywood Bowl three times, and each time, he delivered an unforgettably entertaining performance. The Nightmare Before Christmas won’t be the same without him. Rest in peace.
A spectator recently commented on Ken Page’s recent interpretation of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid, which he sang at D23 only two months ago. They expressed, “Ken Page embodied the essence of a ‘Broadway Legend’. He may be remembered primarily for his role as Oogie, but every performance he gave was imbued with his heart and soul. His rendition of ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ has now become one of my personal favorites.
Here are some more of the tributes shared by fans of the actor.
Ken Page’s Career Spanned 5 Decades
Despite the fact that his portrayal of Oogie Boogie is widely recognized as his most memorable character, Page has appeared in a total of 35 on-screen projects and numerous Broadway productions, including playing Old Deuteronomy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. His fellow actor, Elaine Paige, also paid tribute to him.
Besides his roles on television shows like Family Matters, Touched by an Angel, and Charmed, as well as the musical film Dreamgirls, he also lent his voice to King Gator in the animation All Dogs Go to Heaven. However, it was the character of Oogie Boogie that he frequently reprised, appearing in video games like Kingdom Hearts, and live performances such as The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. This Halloween season, fans of the movie will find a touch of nostalgia as they revisit this performance once more.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
is streaming on Disney+.
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2024-10-01 22:01