Mr. & Misbehavin' (Image via Martha Swope)

On the same day Broadway was already dealing with the shock of the loss of Tony winner Gavin Creel at 48, veteran musical-theater actor Ken Page has now also died. He was 70.

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Page's death was announced by friends, including Shari Belafonte, who confirmed it and wrote:

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...

Page was said to have died quietly at his home.

His credits are staggering, including appearing in the original productions of The Wiz (1975), Ain't Misbehavin' (1978 & 1988) and Cats (1982), playing Old Deuteronomy in the latter.

He was also Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (1976) and appeared in It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues (1999), along with an extensive career off-Broadway, in regional productions and as an in-demand cabaret act.

You might recognize his face from the film versions of Torch Song Trilogy (1988) and Dreamgirls (2006), or his voice from All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Page was also active on TV.

The actor, who was out, was just profiled in June by Palm Springs Life. He had this to say about whether he was advised against playing gay in Torch Song Trilogy:

When I did Torch Song Trilogy, there were many people who said, “Don’t do it. You don’t want to play a gay character. You don’t want to play a drag performer. You don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t…” Even after I did it, there were people who I loved dearly who said, “Bury it. Just do something else quick and bury it.” I thought, “But I’m so proud to be part of it, why would I want to bury it?”

He went on to say that the key to his longevity in theater was:

... to be honest with what you’re putting out there. That way you stay not only current, but you stay true to yourself. When you stop doing what’s real for you in the now is when you get in trouble.