Who is Kenny Ortega? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Kenny Ortega Wiki Biography

Kenneth John Ortega was born on 18 April 1950 in Palo Alto, California USA, of Spanish descent, and is a film director, producer and choreographer. His most popular works have included directing ‘Hocus Pocus’, the ‘High School Musical trilogy’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ concerts.

So just how rich is Kenny Ortega? Current indications are that Kenny has an estimated net worth of $10 million; the sources of Kenny’s wealth are films, television, music and concerts, as Ortega has accumulated his wealth while working in all these media.

Kenny Ortega Net Worth $10 Million

Kenny Ortega’s family was average, with his mother, Madeline, being a waitress and his father, Octavio ‘Tibby’ Ortega, a factory worker. Kenny was educated at Sequioa High School in Redwood City, California, but then took some time to find his way into the entertainment industry. His net worth account was opened in 1980, with ‘Xanadu’, the romantic musical fantasy film written by Richard Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel, and directed by Robert Greenwald on which Kenny worked as a choreographer. He continued with ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ directed by Joel Schumacher, ‘Pretty in Pink’ directed by Howard Deutch, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ produced and directed by John Hughes,  ‘Salsa’ directed by Boaz Davidson, ‘Shag’ directed by Zelda Barron, and in particular ‘Dirty Dancing’ directed by Emile Ardolino, which became iconic in the world of film musicals.

Kenny increased his net worth while working not only as a choreographer, but also a director in the musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, ‘Newsies’ produced by Michael Finnell, teen/children’s romantic comedy musical television film ‘High School Musical’ trilogy, and the musical ‘The Cheetah Girls 2’ produced by Deborah Gregory and Whitney Houston. Ortega also raised his net worth by directing the horror comedy film ‘Hocus Pocus’, and ‘Michael Jackson‘s This Is It’ documentary–concert film, among others.

Furthermore, Kenny Ortega added to his net worth while working in television. He directed two episodes of the television series ‘Dirty Dancing’, two episodes of the musical teen drama series ‘Hull High’, an episode of the television drama ‘Second Noah’, two episodes of ‘Chicago Hope’ – medical drama television series created by David E. Kelley, an episode of ‘Resurrection Blvd.’, an episode of the sitcom ‘Grounded for Life’, comedy drama series ‘Ally McBeal’, episodes of the ‘Gilmore Girls’ comedy drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, an episode of ‘Phineas and Ferb’ musical comedy and an episode of ‘Bunheads’ comedy drama series.

Moreover, a big part of Kenny’s work was in concerts, so he increased his net worth while being the director and choreographer of  Cher’s ‘Heart of Stone’ tour, Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous World’, ‘HIStory’ world tours and ‘This is It’ concerts. Ortega’s net worth rose after he worked as a choreographer and director of Gloria Estefan’s ‘Live & Unwrapped’, and Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus‘ ‘Best of Both’ world tours. Kenny Ortega added further to his net worth showing himself on the big screen in the film ‘Mario’, Paul Thomas Paw role in ‘The Revenge Rampage’ and Puncher John role in ‘Spies’.

In 2008, Kenny received ALMA Award Special, Achievement Award Outstanding Director. In 2009, he received Outstanding Achievement Award from National Association of Latino Independent Producers and Jackie Coogan Award, Contribution to Youth, from 30th Young Artist Awards.

Kenny is very careful to keep his personal life private – consequently rumours abound of his sexuality, which bother him not at all.



Full Name Kenny Ortega
Net Worth $10 Million
Date Of Birth April 18, 1950
Place Of Birth Palo Alto, California, United States
Profession Film Producer, Television Director, Choreographer, Actor, Television producer, Film director
Nationality American
Spouse Flora Pérez, Rosalía Mera
Children Sandra Ortega Mera, Marta Ortega Perez, Marcos Ortega Mera
Parents Octavio Ortega, Madeline Ortega
Siblings Debra Lee Ortega, Mark Ortega, Antonio Ortega, Pilar Ortega Gaona, Josefa Ortega Gaona
Nicknames Kenneth John Ortega , Kenneth Ortega
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/kennyortegablog
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/kennyortegablog
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/official_kenny_ortega
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0650905
Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography, ALMA Award Special, Jackie Coogan Award, Contribution to Youth, from 30th Young Artist Awards,
Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
Movies High School Musical, Descendants, Michael Jackson’s This Is It, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Hocus Pocus, High School Musical 2, Newsies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again, Descendants 2, The Cheetah Girls 2, And God Created Woman, Legally Mad, XIX Winter Olympics Op…
Quote
1 There’s an old Fred Astaire movie where the stage becomes bigger and deeper and more complex. Moments like that really did impact on me and influence me. I want to bring a little of that to High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)–that the whole world is a stage.
2 [on what he learned from his mentor, Gene Kelly] If you didn’t understand how to design your choreography for the camera, then you were shortchanging yourself and would never come to fully realize your worth. It would have meant very little if I hadn’t come to understand technically how to put the work up.
Fact
1 He is of Spanish descent.
2 Longtime friend of Josh Carmichael.
3 Longtime personal friend and choreographer to Michael Jackson.
4 On set, if he catches an actor or actress yawning, he forces them to pay him a dollar. After production he donates all the proceeds to “The Make a Wish Foundation”.
5 As of 2007, he has directed three out of the four successful Disney Channel Original Movies with High School Musical (2006), The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) and High School Musical 2 (2007).
6 Has worked with Madonna, Cher, Gloria Estefan and Elton John.

Director

Title Year Status Character
A Change of Heart 2017 completed
Descendants 2 2017 TV Movie post-production
Dirty Dancing announced
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again 2016 TV Movie
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 2016 TV Series 1 episode
Descendants 2015 TV Movie
The Making of Frozen 2014 Short
Bunheads 2012 TV Series 1 episode
The Playboy Club 2011 TV Series 1 episode
Legally Mad 2010 TV Movie
Dome Project 2010 Video short
This Is It 2009 Documentary
Michael Jackson Memorial 2009 TV Movie documentary creative director
High School Musical 3: Senior Year 2008
High School Musical 2 2007 TV Movie
Gilmore Girls 2002-2006 TV Series 12 episodes
The Cheetah Girls 2 2006 TV Movie
High School Musical 2006 TV Movie
Billy Squier: Video Hits 2005 Video short segment “Rock Me Tonight”
Ally McBeal 2001-2002 TV Series 3 episodes
XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 2002 TV Movie
Grounded for Life 2001 TV Series 1 episode
Resurrection Blvd. 2000 TV Series 1 episode
Chicago Hope 1998-1999 TV Series 2 episodes
Wasteland 1999 TV Series 1 episode
Fame L.A. 1997 TV Series
Second Noah 1996 TV Series 1 episode
Hocus Pocus: Begin the Magic 1994 TV Movie documentary
Hocus Pocus 1993
Newsies 1992
Hull High 1990 TV Series 3 episodes
Dirty Dancing 1988 TV Series 2 episodes
Red Hot Rock 1984 Video segment “Breakin’ Together”

Miscellaneous

Title Year Status Character
Descendants 2015 TV Movie choreographer
This Is It 2009 Documentary choreographer
High School Musical 3: Senior Year 2008 choreographer
Awilda and a Bee 2008 Short caterer
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 2008 Documentary concert conceived & produced by / stage director
High School Musical 2 2007 TV Movie choreographer
High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Pass 2007 Video choreographer / concert creator / concert producer
High School Musical 2006 TV Movie choreographer
XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 2002 TV Movie supervising choreographer
The Way She Moves 2001 TV Movie choreographer
Grounded for Life 2001 TV Series choreographer – 1 episode
Wasteland 1999 TV Series choreographer
Quest for Camelot 1998 choreographer
Centennial Olympic Games: Opening Ceremonies 1996 TV Special choreographer
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar 1995 choreographer
Hocus Pocus 1993 choreographer
Newsies 1992 choreographer
Hull High 1990 TV Series choreographer – 8 episodes
Shag 1989/I choreographer
Neil Diamond: Greatest Hits Live 1988 Video documentary choreographer
Mickey’s 60th Birthday 1988 TV Movie choreographer
The Great Outdoors 1988 choreographer
Salsa 1988 choreographer
And God Created Woman 1988 choreography consultant
Totally Minnie 1988 TV Movie choreographer
Dirty Dancing 1987 choreographer
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 1986 choreographer
Pretty in Pink 1986 choreographer
St. Elmo’s Fire 1985 choreographer
Super Night of Rock ‘n’ Roll 1984 TV Movie choreographer
Olivia Newton-John: Let’s Get Physical 1982 TV Movie choreographer
The Tubes: Tubes Video 1982 Video choreographer
One from the Heart 1981 choreographer
Xanadu 1980 choreographer
Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights 1980 TV Special choreographer

Producer

Title Year Status Character
Dirty Dancing producer announced
Descendants 2015 TV Movie executive producer
This Is It 2009 Documentary producer: live show
High School Musical 3: Senior Year 2008 executive producer
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 2008 Documentary producer
High School Musical 2 2007 TV Movie co-producer
High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Pass 2007 Video producer
Live and Unwrapped 2004 Video producer
The Disco Ball 2003 TV Special producer
XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 2002 TV Movie producer
The Way She Moves 2001 TV Movie co-executive producer
Hull High 1990 TV Series co-executive producer – 2 episodes
Salsa 1988 associate producer

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Tarmun announced Obazi (rumored)
Awilda and a Bee 2008 Short Male School Spelling Bee judge
Chicago Hope 1998 TV Series Ellston McCool
And God Created Woman 1988 Mike

Writer

Title Year Status Character
Dome Project 2010 Video short written by
Timeless: Live in Concert 2001 TV Special documentary

Assistant Director

Title Year Status Character
Salsa 1988 second unit director
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 1986 second unit director

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Michael Jackson Memorial 2009 TV Movie documentary performer: “We Are The World”
Salsa 1988 performer: “Good Lovin'”

Art Department

Title Year Status Character
Dangerous: The Short Films 1993 Video stage design

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
This Is It 2009 Documentary acknowledgment: original concert production created by / acknowledgment: original concert production directed by
The Dream Studio 2004 Video documentary short special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Last of the Showmen 2018 Documentary filming Himself
Move Documentary filming Himself
Shapes of Rhythm: The Music of Galt MacDermot Documentary post-production Himself – Interviewee: Director
World Choreography Awards 2015 Video Himself
Piper’s Picks TV 2015 TV Series Himself – Guest
Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition 2015 TV Series Himself
Underground Dance Masters: Final History of a Forgotten Era 2015 Documentary Xanadu Choreographer
Bystander Revolution 2014 TV Series documentary Himself
Autopsy: The Last Hours Of 2014 TV Series Himself
Move TV 2012-2013 TV Series Himself
American Latino TV 2013 TV Series Himself
So You Think You Can Dance 2010-2013 TV Series Himself – Guest Judge
Phineas and Ferb 2011 TV Series Himself
Le grand journal de Canal+ 2010 TV Series documentary Himself
Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’: Staging the Return – Beyond the Show 2010 Video documentary short Himself
Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’: Auditions – Searching for the World’s Best Dancers 2010 Video documentary short Himself
Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’: Memories of Michael 2010 Video documentary short Himself
Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’: Staging the Return – The Adventure Begins 2010 Video documentary short Himself
Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’: The Gloved One 2010 Video documentary short Himself
All Access: Making Michael Jackson’s This Is It 2010 TV Movie documentary Himself
15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards 2010 TV Special Himself
Doc Talk 2010 TV Series Himself
This Is It 2009 Documentary Himself
Xposé 2009 TV Series Himself
Entertainment Tonight 2009 TV Series Himself
Live from Studio Five 2009 TV Series Himself
The Oprah Winfrey Show 2009 TV Series Himself – Guest
Michael Jackson Memorial 2009 TV Movie documentary Himself
Larry King Live 2009 TV Series Himself – Guest
The Movie Loft 2009 TV Series Himself
High School Musical 3 Special 2009 TV Movie documentary Himself
HSM3: Cast Goodbyes 2009 Video documentary short Himself
HSM3: It’s All in the Dress 2009 Video documentary short Himself
HSM3: New Cast Profiles 2009 Video documentary short Himself
HSM3: Prom – The Night of Nights 2009 Video documentary short Himself
HSM3: Senior Awards 2009 Video documentary short Himself
Disney Get Connected 2009 TV Series Himself
So You Think You Can Dance Canada 2008 TV Series Himself – Guest Judge
HSM2: In the Kitchen 2008 Video documentary short Himself
HSM2: Making of Humuhumunukunukuapua’a 2008 Video documentary short Himself
HSM2: On Location 2008 Video documentary short Himself
Going Back to Xanadu 2008 Video Himself
Good Morning America 2008 TV Series Himself – Guest
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 2008 Documentary Himself – Tour Director
Portrait of a Choreographer 2007 Video short Himself
HSM2: Anatomy of a Dance Number 2007 Video documentary short Himself – Director / Choreographer
HSM2: Rehearsal Cam 2007 Video documentary short Himself – Director / Choreographer
HSM2: The Making of a Music Scene 2007 Video documentary short Himself – Director
Disney 365 2007 TV Series documentary
Dancing with the Stars 2006 TV Series Himself
Greatest Movie Love Scenes 2006 TV Movie documentary Himself
2006 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2006 TV Special Himself – Winner: Outstanding Choreography
The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2002 TV Special Himself – Winner: Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
American Masters 2002 TV Series documentary Himself
Hocus Pocus: Begin the Magic 1994 TV Movie documentary Himself – Director
Movie Magic 1994 TV Series documentary Himself
Blood Drips Heavily on Newsies Square 1991 Video short Himself
America’s Dance Honors 1990 TV Special Himself
Salsa 1988 Himself
Making Xanadu: The Musical Fantasy Movie 1980 TV Movie documentary Himself

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Descendants: Set It Off! 2015 TV Movie Himself
Entertainment Tonight 2009 TV Series Himself

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2016 DGA Award Directors Guild of America, USA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs Descendants (2015)
2010 Imagen Award Imagen Foundation Awards Best Director – Film This Is It (2009)
2009 Jackie Coogan Award Young Artist Awards For the “High School Musical” films.
2008 ALMA Award ALMA Awards Outstanding Director of a Made-for-TV Movie High School Musical 2 (2007)
2007 ALMA Award ALMA Awards Outstanding Director – Television Series, Mini-Series, Television Movie High School Musical (2006)
2007 DGA Award Directors Guild of America, USA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs High School Musical (2006)
2006 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Choreography High School Musical (2006)
2004 Career Achievement Award American Choreography Awards, USA
2002 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Choreography XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2002)
2002 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2002)
2002 American Choreography Award American Choreography Awards, USA Outstanding Achievement in Television – Variety or Special XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2002)
1998 American Choreography Award American Choreography Awards, USA Outstanding Achievement in Television – Episodic Chicago Hope (1994)
1997 American Choreography Award American Choreography Awards, USA Outstanding Achievement in Television – Variety or Special

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2010 Black Reel Black Reel Awards Best Documentary This Is It (2009)
2008 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Choreography High School Musical 2 (2007)
2008 DGA Award Directors Guild of America, USA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs High School Musical 2 (2007)
2007 Imagen Award Imagen Foundation Awards Best Director – Film The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006)
2006 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special High School Musical (2006)
2006 Gold Derby TV Award Gold Derby Awards Comedy Episode of the Year Gilmore Girls (2000)
2003 OFTA Television Award Online Film & Television Association Best Direction in a Comedy Series Gilmore Girls (2000)
2002 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2002)
2001 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Choreography Grounded for Life (2001)
1993 Razzie Award Razzie Awards Worst Director Newsies (1992)
1991 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music Hull High (1990)
1985 VMA MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) Best Choreography in a Video

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