Kenny Wormald

Kenny Wormald
Born 27 July 1984
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education Stoughton High School
Sherry Gold Dance Studios (a.k.a. The Gold School)[1]
Occupation Dancer, actor, choreographer, producer
Height 5'10"
Website
thekennywormald.com

Kenneth "Kenny" Wormald (born July 27, 1984) is an American dancer, reality television star and actor. His best known role to date is perhaps as Ren McCormack in the 2011 remake of 1984's Footloose. Wormald was a regular on the MTV reality television series Dancelife in 2007.

Early life

Wormald was born in Boston, to Melanie and Edgar K. Wormald, and grew up in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where he graduated from Stoughton High School in 2002.[2][3] He has two brothers, Lee and Dylan. He moved to Los Angeles right after his high school graduation.[4]

Dance career

He began dancing at the age of six, after his mother saw him dancing to a New Kids on the Block video. He attended The Gold School in Brockton. At age 13, he won the Master Dance of New England and was named the Junior Mr. Dance of New England. A year later, at age 14, he was named Teen Dancer of Boston. At age 15, he was named Teen Mr. Dance of New England.[5] In 1996, Wormald was selected to dance for President Bill Clinton at the White House as part of the annual Easter celebration.[6] In 2002, he won the gold medal at the World Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany for a tap dance routine he performed.[6] Wormald has appeared in music videos for Madonna, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, BoA and JoJo.[7] Wormald has been a back-up dancer for both Justin Timberlake and The Pussycat Dolls tours.[8]

Acting and reality television career

In January 2004, Wormald starred as a dancer in the movie You Got Served.In December 2006, Wormald was announced to have joined the MTV Jennifer Lopez-produced dance-oriented reality television series Dancelife which follows a group of aspiring dancers trying to make it in Hollywood.[9] Notably the series also starred So You Think You Can Dance Canada choreographer Blake McGrath.[10] The series was not renewed for a second season due to low ratings.[11] In April 2008 Wormald was confirmed to make his Acting debut in the Oxygen cable network Made-For-Television film Center Stage: Turn It Up as the male lead.[12] The film, a sequel to Center Stage, premiered in November that same year to generally negative reviews from critics.[13]

In June 2010, Paramount Pictures announced Wormald was cast as the protagonist in the planned remake of the 1984 dance drama film Footloose.[14] Both Zac Efron and Chace Crawford were attached to play the role of Ren McCormack but both dropped out.[15] Filming took place in September that same year on a $24 million budget with Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid confirmed to star.[16] The film Footloose was released on October 14, 2011[17] to generally positive reviews from critics with Wormald's performance receiving mixed reviews.[18] The film went on to gross over $62 million worldwide.[19]

In November 2012, Wormald began filming God Only Knows in Boston, directed by James Mottern.[20][21]

Tours

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2004 You Got Served Dancer Uncredited
2006 Clerks II Dancer Uncredited
Jackass Number Two Dancer Uncredited
2007 Dancelife Himself MTV Reality Television Series
2008 Center Stage: Turn It Up Tommy Anderson
2011 Footloose Ren McCormack
2013 God Only Knows Vito Tortano Post-production
2013 Kid Cannabis Topher
2013 Cavemen Pete
2014 The Living Gordan
2014 It Snows all the Time Art
2014 Love and Mercy Dennis Wilson Post-production
2015 By The Gun Vito Tortano

References

  1. ↑ The Gold School - website
  2. ↑ Symkus, Ed, "Stoughton's Kenny Wormald stars in remake of 'Footloose'". The Patriot Ledger. October 8, 2011 p. 2
  3. ↑ Rodman, Sarah (October 9, 2011). "Kick off your Sunday shoes". Boston.com.
  4. ↑ Kaufman, Amy, "'Footloose' star Kenny Wormald on fame and humility". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2011
  5. ↑ Polillio, Genevieve. "Tapping his way into the spotlight." The Knight (Winter 2000); retrieved January 30, 2007
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Cast Bio: Kenny Wormald", official Footloose (2011) film website.
  7. ↑ Woodman, Tenley Stepping up: Local dancer swings into MTV's 'Dancelife' (January 15, 2007). The Boston Herald; retrieved January 30, 2007
  8. ↑ Lawson, Richard, "The Five Most Interesting Moments of the VMAs", tv.com, September 14, 2009
  9. ↑ "J Lo's Dancelife on MTV". Popsugar.com. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  10. ↑ "News from Burlington Post | Catch up on Burlington community living". InsideHalton. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  11. ↑ "Dancelife | Full Episodes, Photos, Episode Synopsis and Recaps". MTV. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  12. ↑ "'Center Stage' sequel steps, er, turns it up - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  13. ↑ "Center Stage Sequel: Center Stage Turn it Up". Buzzsugar.com. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  14. ↑ Cavanagh, Kristie (2010-06-23). "Newcomer Kenny Wormald cast in 'Footloose' remake as Ren McCormack - New York Daily News". Articles.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  15. ↑ Sperling, Nicole (June 22, 2010). "Newcomer Kenny Wormald lands lead role in 'Footloose' remake". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.). Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  16. ↑ http://www.webcitation.org/5tOWcDp28
  17. ↑ "Paranormal Activity 3, Footloose Release Dates Set". ComingSoon.net (CraveOnline Media). November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Footloose". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  19. ↑ "Footloose (2011) (2011)". Box Office Mojo. 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  20. ↑ "‘Terminales’ films at Diesel Cafe", The Boston Globe, November 28, 2012
  21. ↑ "God Only Knows", jamesmottern.com

Further reading

External links