Kenny Ortega
American television and film director, producer, choreographer · United States · On the map · Directors · Born 1950 · age 76
Kenneth John Ortega is an American director, producer, choreographer, and concert creator. He is best known for his work with Disney Channel, notably the High School Musical film trilogy, cult classics such as Newsies and Hocus Pocus, The Cheetah Girls 2, and the first three Descendants films.
Kenny Ortega is read about 1,523 times a day, in 28 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 115 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
LEGO Friends: Heartlake the MusicalFilm, Writer, Producer2020
Julie and the PhantomsSeries, Director, Producer
The Disney Family SingalongFilm, 2020Producer2019Disney LegendsAward
Descendants 3Film, 2019Director, Producer2017
Andi MackSeries, Director
A Change of HeartFilm, 2017Director2016
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp AgainFilm, Director, Producer2013
Dirty Dancing - The PhenomenonFilm2012
BunheadsSeries, Director2009
Michael Jackson MemorialFilm, Director2008
Going Back to XanaduFilm2007
Phineas and FerbSeries, Kenny Ortega (voice)2006
High School MusicalFilm, Director2005
Dancing with the StarsSeries2002Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety SeriesAward2001
Barbra Streisand: Timeless - Live in ConcertFilm, Director, Writer2000
Gilmore GirlsSeries, Director1999
MJ & Friends: Live in SeoulFilm, Director1997
Ally McBealSeries, Director1996
Second NoahSeries, Director1992
NewsiesFilm, Director1991
Blood Drips Heavily on Newsie SquareFilm1990
Hull HighSeries, Director, Producer1988
Dirty DancingSeries, Director1984
Red Hot RockFilm, Director1950Born18 April 1950People around Kenny
Close ties
Corbin Bleu Kenny directed High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Zac Efron Kenny produced High School Musical 2 (2008)
Vanessa Hudgens Kenny directed High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Dove Cameron Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Ashley Tisdale Kenny produced High School Musical 2 (2007)
Sofia Carson Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Cameron Boyce Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Lucas Grabeel Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)
Booboo Stewart Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Monique Coleman Kenny directed High School Musical 2 (2008)
Keegan Connor Tracy Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Olesya Rulin Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)- Chris Warren Kenny produced High School Musical 2 (2007)
Alyson Reed Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)
Bart Johnson Kenny produced High School Musical 2 (2007)
Brenna D'Amico Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Kaycee Stroh Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)
Dan Payne Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Melanie Paxson Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Ryne Sanborn Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)
Mitchell Hope Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Jedidiah Goodacre Kenny directed Descendants and Descendants 2
Leslie Wing Kenny directed High School Musical (2008)
China Anne McClain Kenny directed Descendants 2 and Descendants 3
Known for
View all 36 titles
Descendants 3 2019
Descendants 2 2017
This Is It 2009
Descendants 2015
Hocus Pocus 1993
Filmography 36
93 credits on file
Television 17
Media & music
Photos 1
Awards
About this person
In 2019, he signed a five year deal with Netflix, producing the original series Julie and the Phantoms, which was cancelled after only one season. He has also choreographed multiple iconic ‘80s films such as Xanadu, One from the Heart, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Dirty Dancing. Ortega has worked on multiple music videos and produced concert tours for the likes of Kiss, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, and Michael Jackson, notably the cancelled This is It concert residency. He also wrote, directed, and produced Jackson's posthumous documentary film, Michael Jackson's This Is It. For his work, Ortega was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Disney Legend Award in 2019.
