Broadway star Ken Page has died aged 70, his friend confirmed in a statement.
The musical theatre actor was best known for his role as the Lion in the hit musical The Wiz and Old Deuteronomy in Cats, as well as voicing Oogie Boogie in the classic animated movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. His longtime friend Dorian Hannaway announced the heartbreaking news on Facebook.
She wrote: "Ken Page has passed onto the next show. My heart is broken." Friends took to the comment section to pay their condolences, with one user writing: "So sorry for your loss. My heart is with you," while another posted: "Oh no. I’m so sorry to read this sad news. Sending love and hugs to you. May his memory live on forever."
"WHAT?!?!?! Omg I’m am sobbing," another heartbroken fan added and one commented: "I am speechless and heartbroken. Sending you all of my love." Actress Shari Belafonte added: "One of the sweetest, most talented guys on the planet. I couldn't believe it... but it's true. It feels like it's coming just a bit too fast and a tad too furiously now... James Earl, Dame Maggie, Kris, Pete Rose, Dikembe, Officer Taggert/John Ashton, Drake H... and now Ken. RIP ALL of you. Heaven is packing it in right now with brilliant talent stepping off that First Class charter..."
Ken was born on January 20, 1954, in St Louis and made his Broadway debut by originating the role of the Lion in the 1975 hit 'The Wiz'. He was also known for playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1976 revival of Guys and Dolls. He appeared in Ain't Misbehavin, played Old Deuteronomy in Cats in 1982, and returned in 1999 for It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.
He also worked in off-Broadway and regional theatre. His cabaret act Page by Page was well-reviewed and he later tried out directing later in his career. His credits include the likes of Torch Song Trilogy in 1988 and Dreamgirls in 2006. He provided the voice of King Gator in All Dogs Go To Heaven.
Fans of the Nightmare Before Christmas will also remember him as Oogie Boogie. He made his TV debut on Gimme a Break! in 1984 where he starred opposite his Ain't Misbehavin' co-star Nell Carter. Ken starred in Sable and even appeared in Family Matters in 1990 before taking on roles in South Central and Touched by an Angel.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-broadway-ken-page-dies-33789824 
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