Kenny Ortega
The Magic Behind the Film Magician
By Lauryn Alise Thomas
Kenny Ortega at AFI Fest in 2009
Biography
Kenneth John "Kenny" Ortega was born on April 18, 1950 in Palo Alto, California. He is the son of Madeline and Octavio Ortega, both working lower class jobs in the hard knocks of California. His family is of Spanish descent. At the young age of 13, Ortega showed a great interest in the performing arts, starring in "Hair". In the 1980's he began to show an interest in stage direction and choreography, and soon he began to choreagraph big motion pictures such as Dirty Dancing and Newsies. He also helped put together Michael Jackson's 1992-1993 tour. These early works set the stage for some of his later and larger products.
High School Memories
Kenny Ortega with Zach Efron and Venessa Hudgens on the set of the famous 2008 film High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
Extra! Extra!
Kenny Ortega on the set of Newsies (1992), based upon events that occured during newsboy strike of 1899.
Hocus Pocus!
Another one of Ortega's best works, Hocus Pocus (1993). Here we see young Kenny and the star of the film, Bette Midler.
'Descendants': Director Kenny Ortega on How to Be Inspired
Awards
Kenny Ortega has one more than several awards. These awards include two Primetime Emmy awards in 2002 and 2006 for his work with High School Musical and the 2002 Olympics, two ALMA awards for Special Achievement and Director of a Television Drama or Comedy. He also won the Directors Guilds of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Children's Program.
Kenny With Primetime Award
Quote
"There's an old Fred Astaire movie where the stage becomes bigger and deeper and more complex. Moments like that really did impact me and influence me."