R.I.P. Ken Page

Broadway star and voice actor Ken Page has died age 70...

From Extra TV

Ken Page, whose Broadway résumé included originating roles in some of the most important productions in musical-theater history, died Monday. He was 70.

Page's death was announced by friends, including Dorian Hannaway, who wrote on Facebook, "Ken Page has passed onto the next show. My heart is broken." She went on to report he "passed quietly and peacefully at his home."

Page, born January 20, 1954, in St. Louis, had one of the most auspicious Broadway debuts imaginable, originating the role of the Lion in the 1975 smash "The Wiz." He also played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1976 revival of "Guys and Dolls," appeared in the sensational "Ain't Misbehavin'" (1978 & 1988), played Old Deuteronomy in "Cats" (1982), and returned in 1999 for "It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues."

He also had an extensive career in off-Broadway and regional theater, working extensively for the Muny-St. Louis. He was a highly regarded cabaret act whose show "Page by Page" was well-reviewed, and he branched out into directing later in his career.

Film credits included "Torch Song Trilogy" (1988) and "Dreamgirls" (2006), and providing memorable voices for King Gator in "All Dogs Go to Heaven" (1989) and Oogie Boogie in "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993).

On TV, he made his debut opposite his "Ain't Misbehavin'" co-star Nell Carter on "Gimme a Break!" (1984), was a regular on the short-lived series "Sable" (1987-1988), and was seen on the series "Family Matters" (1990), "South Central" (1994), and "Touched by an Angel" (1995). From 1993-1994, he was the Walrus on the live-action series "Adventures in Wonderland."