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Kenny Ortega

Director, Producer, Actor, Writer

April 18, 1950 (76 years)
Kenneth John Ortega is an American producer, director and choreographer. He directed the films Newsies (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), the High School Musical trilogy (2006–2008), Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) and the Descendants trilogy (2015–2019). Ortega has choreographed films including St. Elmo's Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) and Dirty Dancing (1987). He has also directed multiple concert tours, including tours for Cher, Gloria Estefan and Michael Jackson. In 2019, Ortega was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

FreeMovies & Shows on Plex

  • A Change of Heart
    A Change of Heart

Known For

  • Hocus Pocus
    Hocus Pocus
  • High School Musical
    High School Musical
  • High School Musical 2
    High School Musical 2
  • High School Musical 3: Senior Year
    High School Musical 3: Senior Year
  • This Is It
    Rent
    This Is It
  • Gilmore Girls
    Gilmore Girls
    7 Seasons
  • Descendants
    Descendants
  • Newsies
    Newsies
  • Descendants 2
    Descendants 2
  • Descendants 3
    Descendants 3
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
    The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
  • The Cheetah Girls 2
    The Cheetah Girls 2
  • Julie and the Phantoms
    Julie and the Phantoms
    1 Season
  • Ally McBeal
    Ally McBeal
    5 Seasons
  • Grounded for Life
    Grounded for Life
    5 Seasons
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
    Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
    4 Seasons
  • Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
    Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
  • Bunheads
    Bunheads
    1 Season
  • The Playboy Club
    The Playboy Club
    1 Season

Filmography

2026
Dirty Dancing
2020
Julie and the Phantoms
2019
Descendants 3
2017
Descendants 2
2017
A Change of HeartOn Plex
2017
Andi Mack
2016
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
2015
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
2015
Descendants
2012
Bunheads
2011
The Playboy Club
2009
This Is It
2009
Michael Jackson Memorial
2008
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
2007
High School Musical 2
2006
The Cheetah Girls 2
2006
High School Musical
2002
XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
2001
Timeless: Live in Concert
2001
Grounded for Life
2000
Gilmore Girls
2000
Resurrection Blvd.
1999
Wasteland
1997
Fame L.A.
1997
Ally McBeal
1996
Second Noah
1994
Chicago Hope
1994
Hocus Pocus: Begin the Magic
1993
Hocus Pocus
1992
Newsies
1990
Hull High
1988
Dirty Dancing
1984
Red Hot Rock

2026
Lego Friends: Heartlake the Musical
2026
Dirty Dancing
2025
Santos Bravos · as Executive Producer
2020
Julie and the Phantoms · as Executive Producer
2020
The Disney Family Singalong
2019
Descendants 3 · as Executive Producer
2017
Descendants 2 · as Executive Producer
2016
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again · as Executive Producer
2015
Descendants · as Executive Producer
2009
This Is It
2008
High School Musical 3: Senior Year · as Executive Producer
2008
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
2007
High School Musical 2
2007
High School Musical: The Concert - Extreme Access Pass
2004
Live and Unwrapped
2002
XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
1990
Hull High
1988
Salsa · as Associate Producer

2022
Step Into... The Movies · as Self
2020
Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield · as Self - Director 'this Is It' Show
2020
GMA3: What You Need to Know · as Self
2020
Reunited Apart · as Self
2020
The Disney Family Singalong · as Self
2019
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Special · as Self
2019
The Movies That Made Us · as Self - Choreographer
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage · as Self
2018
The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash · as Self
2018
Dancing with the Stars: Juniors · as Self - Audience
2018
Cultureshock · as Self
2018
The Last Days of Michael Jackson · as Self
2017
Descendants 2: It's Going Down · as Self
2015
Descendants: Set It Off! · as Self
2014
Good Morning Britain · as Self - Hollywood Director Behind Disney's 'descendants 2'
2010
Family Feud · as Himself
2009
This Is It · as Self
2009
Live from Studio Five · as Self
2009
Michael Jackson Memorial · as Self
2008
So You Think You Can Dance Canada · as Self - Guest Judge
2008
Celebrity Family Feud · as Self - Contestant
2008
Piper's Picks TV · as Self - Guest
2008
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert · as Self - Tour Director
2007
Xposé · as Self
2006
Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition · as Self
2006
Doc Talk · as Self
2005
So You Think You Can Dance · as Self - Guest Judge
2005
Dancing with the Stars · as Self - Guest Judge
2004
Le grand journal de Canal+ · as Self
2002
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer · as Self
2002
The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner
1997
The View · as Self
1994
Movie Magic · as Self
1994
Hocus Pocus: Begin the Magic · as Self - Director
1991
Blood Drips Heavily on Newsies Square · as Self
1988
Salsa · as Self
1986
The Oprah Winfrey Show · as Self - Guest
1985
American Masters · as Self
1985
Larry King Live · as Self - Guest
1981
Entertainment Tonight · as Self
1975
Good Morning America · as Self - Guest
Move · as Self

2021
2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards · as Winner
2007
Phineas and Ferb · as Kenny Ortega (voice)
1994
Chicago Hope · as Ellston Mccool
1988
And God Created Woman · as Mike

2009
This Is It
2001
Timeless: Live in Concert

2026
Lego Friends: Heartlake the Musical · as Story
2010
Dinocroc vs. Supergator · as Art Direction
2001
The Way She Moves · as Co-Executive Producer
1997
Michael Jackson: HIStory Live · as Art Direction
1986
Ferris Bueller's Day Off · as Second Unit Director