The Pumpkin King's Voices: Where Is The Nightmare Before Christmas Cast Now? (2025 Update)

Released over three decades ago, Tim Burton’s *The Nightmare Before Christmas* remains a timeless classic, blurring the lines between Halloween and Christmas. As of December 2025, the film’s legacy is more vibrant than ever, fueled by major anniversary celebrations and the continued involvement of its core voice actors in live concert events, making the question of "Where is the cast now?" a constant source of curiosity for fans of Jack Skellington and the residents of Halloween Town. This iconic stop-motion masterpiece is defined by its unforgettable characters and the distinctive voices that brought them to life, a roster of talent that includes Broadway legends, Oscar-nominated actors, and a unique split-performance for the Pumpkin King himself.

The film’s enduring appeal is a testament to the meticulous work of director Henry Selick and the genius of composer Danny Elfman, but the heart of the story rests with its voice cast. From the dual-voiced protagonist to the recent, somber news regarding a beloved villain, the actors behind the puppets continue to be the subject of major headlines. The information below provides the most current details on the principal cast, including recent updates and career highlights that extend the film’s spooky, festive magic well into 2025.

The Principal Voice Cast: A Complete Biography and Profile List

The unique soundscape of *The Nightmare Before Christmas* is a result of a highly specific casting process. The film utilized a rare technique of splitting the speaking and singing voices for its main character, Jack Skellington, and brought in a powerhouse of character actors to voice the residents of Halloween Town and Christmas Town. This list details the key voice actors, their characters, and their most notable career highlights.

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• Jack Skellington (Speaking Voice): Chris Sarandon
  • Born: July 24, 1942, in Beckley, West Virginia.
  • Career Highlights: Sarandon is a veteran actor, notably receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leon in *Dog Day Afternoon* (1975). He is also famous for playing Prince Humperdinck in *The Princess Bride* (1987) and the vampire Jerry Dandrige in *Fright Night* (1985).
  • Current Update: Sarandon regularly participates in fan conventions and has been a key figure in the film's 30th-anniversary events, often appearing alongside Danny Elfman.
• Jack Skellington (Singing Voice) / Barrel: Danny Elfman
  • Born: May 29, 1953, in Los Angeles, California.
  • Career Highlights: Elfman is the film's composer and the singing voice of Jack. He is a frequent collaborator with Tim Burton, scoring nearly all of his films, including *Batman*, *Beetlejuice*, and *Edward Scissorhands*. He was the lead singer for the band Oingo Boingo.
  • Current Update: Elfman continues the tradition of performing the film's score live, with a major concert return confirmed for Halloween 2025, where he reprises his role as Jack's singing voice and Barrel.
• Sally / Shock: Catherine O’Hara
  • Born: March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Career Highlights: A comedic icon, O'Hara is known for her roles as Kate McCallister in the *Home Alone* films and, more recently, Moira Rose in the acclaimed series *Schitt's Creek*, for which she won an Emmy Award. She also voiced Shock, one of the mischievous Lock, Shock, and Barrel trio.
  • Current Update: O'Hara has also returned to reprise her role as Sally for live performances of the film.
• Oogie Boogie: Ken Page
  • Born: January 20, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Career Highlights: Page was a celebrated Broadway actor and cabaret singer, best known for originating the role of Old Deuteronomy in the musical *Cats*. His powerful, resonant voice made the villainous Oogie Boogie one of the film's most memorable characters.
  • Current Update: Tragically, Ken Page passed away in September 2024 at the age of 70. His passing marked a significant loss for the Broadway and voice acting communities, making his recorded performance a final, cherished legacy.
• Dr. Finklestein: William Hickey
  • Born: September 19, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York.
  • Career Highlights: Known for his distinctive, raspy voice and eccentric roles, Hickey was an Oscar nominee for *Prizzi's Honor* (1985). Dr. Finklestein, the mad scientist who created Sally, was one of his final roles before his death in 1997.
• Mayor of Halloween Town: Glenn Shadix
  • Born: April 15, 1952, in Bessemer, Alabama.
  • Career Highlights: Shadix was a frequent collaborator of Tim Burton, most famous for his live-action role as Otho Fenlock in *Beetlejuice* (1988). His voice gave the two-faced, perpetually anxious Mayor his signature, booming tone.
• Lock: Paul Reubens
  • Born: August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York.
  • Career Highlights: Reubens is best known for creating and playing the beloved character Pee-wee Herman. He voiced the devil-costumed leader of the trick-or-treating trio, Lock.
• Santa Claus: Ed Ivory
  • Born: June 10, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.
  • Career Highlights: Ivory provided the voice for the bewildered Santa Claus (or "Sandy Claws," as Jack calls him) who is kidnapped from Christmas Town.

The Split Voice Performance: Why Jack Skellington Needed Two Actors

One of the most fascinating aspects of the production is the casting of two separate actors for the lead role of Jack Skellington. This decision was not a last-minute change but a fundamental part of Tim Burton's original vision for the Pumpkin King. The two actors, Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman, were chosen to embody the dual nature of Jack's character.

Chris Sarandon provides Jack’s speaking voice, lending him a smooth, commanding, and often melancholy dramatic tone. His voice gives Jack the necessary gravitas and sincerity as he grapples with his existential crisis and his desire to understand the magic of Christmas Town. Sarandon’s performance grounds the character, making him a relatable, if slightly misguided, tragic hero.

In contrast, Danny Elfman provides Jack’s singing voice, a choice made because Elfman was also the film’s composer and had written the songs with his own vocal range in mind. Elfman’s iconic, theatrical delivery is essential to the musical numbers, especially the pivotal song "What's This?" and the opening number "This is Halloween." This split performance perfectly captures Jack's two sides: the thoughtful, dramatic leader of Halloween Town (Sarandon) and the manic, musical, and enthusiastic explorer of new holidays (Elfman).

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The seamless transition between the two voices is a testament to the film's brilliant sound design and the direction of Henry Selick, creating a layered character that is both a tragic figure and a vibrant, energetic musical star. This unique casting choice has become a hallmark of the film and a major point of discussion among animation and film enthusiasts.

The Enduring Legacy of the Cast and Stop-Motion Animation

Beyond the main characters, the supporting cast forms the backbone of the film's spooky universe. The trio of Lock, Shock, and Barrel—the mischievous, costumed henchmen of Oogie Boogie—are a perfect example of the cast's versatility. Catherine O'Hara (Sally) returns to voice Shock, while Danny Elfman (Jack's singing voice) is Barrel. Paul Reubens rounds out the trio as Lock. This cross-casting is a subtle but effective way to bind the world of Halloween Town together.

The film’s success is also intrinsically linked to the painstaking, labor-intensive process of stop-motion animation. Director Henry Selick, an expert in the craft, oversaw a production that required animators to manipulate the puppets frame by frame, often achieving only 70 seconds of finished film per week. The attention to detail in the character models, including the 400 separate Jack Skellington heads used to convey his various expressions, is a technical marvel that the voice actors’ performances had to match in emotional depth.

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Recent Cast Reunions and Tributes (2023-2025)

The 30th Anniversary of the film's release in 2023 saw a massive resurgence in public interest and numerous events. The most notable were the live-to-film concert performances, primarily held at the Hollywood Bowl. These concerts feature a full orchestra playing Danny Elfman’s score while the film is screened, with the original voice actors reprising their roles live on stage. These events continue to be a major draw, with Elfman announcing his return for 2025.

The passing of Ken Page in 2024 has added a layer of poignancy to these celebrations. Page, who had often returned to perform "Oogie Boogie's Song" for live audiences, leaves behind an indelible performance that cemented Oogie Boogie as one of Disney's most iconic villains. Future concerts will undoubtedly serve as a tribute to his powerful voice and theatrical spirit.

The film’s enduring popularity, managed by Disney Enterprises, Inc., ensures that the world of *The Nightmare Before Christmas* remains a permanent fixture in popular culture, celebrated annually as both a Halloween favorite and a non-traditional Christmas movie. The cast, whether through their original recorded performances or their continued live appearances, remains the primary connection for fans to the magic of the Pumpkin King and his quest to understand the feeling of "Sandy Claws" and the wonder of Christmas.