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Ken Web page, whose Broadway résumé included originating roles in a few of the most essential productions in musical-theater historical past, died Monday. He was 70.
Web page’s loss of life was introduced by mates, together with Dorian Hannaway, who wrote on Fb, “Ken Web page has handed onto the following present. My coronary heart is damaged.” She went on to report he “handed quietly and peacefully at his house.”
Actress Shari Belafonte posted, “Ken Web page One of many sweetest, most gifted guys on the planet… I could not consider it… however it’s true. It feels prefer it’s coming only a bit too quick 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 proper now with sensible expertise stepping off that First Class constitution…”
Web page’s loss of life is certain to rock the Broadway group, coming the identical day as Tony winner Gavin Creel, whose loss of life earlier within the day had led to an outpouring of grief.
Gavin Creel, Tony Winner for ‘Hey, Dolly!,’ Dies at 48 After Most cancers Battle
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Web page, born January 20, 1954, in St. Louis, had one of the crucial auspicious Broadway debuts possible, originating the position of the Lion within the 1975 smash “The Wiz.” He additionally performed Properly-Properly Johnson within the 1976 revival of “Guys and Dolls,” appeared within the sensational “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (1978 & 1988), performed Previous Deuteronomy in “Cats” (1982), and returned in 1999 for “It Ain’t Nothin’ however the Blues.”
He additionally had an intensive profession in off-Broadway and regional theater, working extensively for the Muny-St. Louis. He was a extremely regarded cabaret act whose present “Web page by Web page” was well-reviewed, and he branched out into directing later in his profession.
Movie credit included “Torch Music Trilogy” (1988) and “Dreamgirls” (2006), and offering memorable voices for King Gator in “All Canines Go to Heaven” (1989) and Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” (1993).
On TV, he made his debut reverse his “Ain’t Misbehavin'” co-star Nell Carter on “Gimme a Break!” (1984), was an everyday on the short-lived sequence “Sable” (1987-1988), and was seen on the sequence “Household Issues” (1990), “South Central” (1994), and “Touched by an Angel” (1995). From 1993-1994, he was the Walrus on the live-action sequence “Adventures in Wonderland.”
He’s survived by many mates and admirers.
