Broadway Star & Voice of Nightmare Before Christmas’ Character Passed Away At 70

As Halloween approaches and Disney fans plan their costumes for the annual Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure park, many of these fans will feel a little sad during the party. For the party, which is named after the Oogie Boogie man from the movie “A Nightmare Before Christmas” will go on despite the death of the man who voiced the character the party is named after.

Actor Ken Page may be best known as the voice of Oogie Boogie, but he has many other credits to this name. He has stated in Broadway productions including The Wiz and Cats. He also stared on screen as the movies “Showgirls” and the movie adaptation of “Cats.” In addition, he worked as a voice actor in the animated film “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

PEOPLE reports that Page died on October 1, 2024. He was 70 years old.

Musician and composer Danny Elfman shared multiple picture of Page on X and wrote, “I’m still stunned by last night’s terrible news. Ken Page died suddenly. He was the one and only Oggie Boogie Man. He was simply one of the best, most generous souls I know. Full of life and overflowing with joy. Talented and then some. Ken, my friend, you will be deeply missed.”

Watch the video below to see Page reprise his role as Oogie Boogie at The Hollywood Bowl back in 2018.

Actor Chris Sarandon, who played Jack in “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” shared his feelings about Page’s death in a statement to PEOPLE. He called Page “a big man: big in body, big in voice, but mostly big in heart.” He added, “He became my dear friend and I admired and loved him.”

Henry Selick, the director of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” shared, “Today, I learned Ken has died, suddenly, at age 70. After the sadness, I am filled with gratitude: of course for his genius performance in ‘Nightmare’ and also for who he was as a person.”

Learn more about Page’s unexpected death in the video below.