Kenny Wormald Explained

Kenny Wormald
Education:Stoughton High School
Spouse:Daniela DeSilva (2014-2015)
Partner:Lauren Bennett
Children:1

Kenny Wormald is an American dancer, reality television star and actor. He played 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 is the son of Melanie and Edgar K. Wormald. He grew up in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where he graduated from Stoughton High School in 2002.[1] [2] He has two brothers, Lee and Dylan. He moved to Los Angeles right after his high school graduation.[3]

Acting career

In January 2004, Wormald starred as a dancer in the movie You Got Served. In April 2008 Wormald was confirmed to make his Acting debut in the Oxygen cable network Made-For-Television film as the male lead.[4] The film, a sequel to Center Stage, premiered in November that same year.

In June 2010, Paramount Pictures announced Wormald was cast as the protagonist in the planned remake of the 1984 dance drama film Footloose.[5] Both Zac Efron and Chace Crawford were attached to play the role of Ren McCormack but both dropped out.[6] Filming took place in September that same year on a $24 million budget with Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid confirmed to star.[7] The film Footloose was released on October 14, 2011[8] to generally positive reviews from critics with Wormald's performance receiving mixed reviews.[9] The film went on to gross over $62 million worldwide.[10]

In 2012, Wormald starred in mock reality webseries Massholes.[11] In 2013, Wormald had main role as Topher in the movie Kid Cannabis.[12] He also played the role of Pete in the movie Cavemen.[13] In 2014, Wormald starred as Gordan in the movie The Living.[14] Wormald had a role as Vito Tortano in the film By The Gun, directed by James Mottern.[15] [16] He also played the role of Ray in the movie Lap Dance.[17]

In 2015, Wormald starred in the short film Instagram: A Caption Story, which was released on YouTube on February 3, 2015.[18] Also that year, Wormald played the role of Dennis Wilson in the indie movie Love & Mercy.[19] He also starred as Chris in the horror film The Girl in the Photographs.[20] He appeared in the music video for Mike Stud's song After Hours, which Wormald also directed.[21]

In 2016, Wormald reprises his role as Tommy Anderson in , which premiered on June 25, 2016 on Lifetime.[22] He guest starred as Derek in Fear the Walking Dead.[23] He starred as Erik Wildwood in the direct to video dance film alongside Cassie Ventura.[24] In 2017, Wormald played the role of Junior Burnside in the indie horror film Happy Hunting.[25] He also played the role of Travis in the indie drama film High Low Forty.[26]

Dance career

He began dancing at the age of six, after his mother saw him dancing to a New Kids on the Block video. 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.[27] In 1996, Wormald was selected to dance for President Bill Clinton at the White House as part of the annual Easter celebration.[28] In 2002, he won the gold medal at the World Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany for a tap dance routine he performed.[28]

Wormald has appeared in music videos for Madonna, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, BoA and JoJo.[29] Wormald has been a back-up dancer for both Justin Timberlake and The Pussycat Dolls tours.[30]

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.[31] Notably the series starred So You Think You Can Dance Canada choreographer Blake McGrath.[32] The series was not renewed for a second season due to low ratings.[33]

Tours

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
2004You Got ServedDancerUncredited
2006Clerks IIDancerUncredited
Jackass Number TwoDancerUncredited
2007 DancelifeHimselfMTV Reality Television Series
2008Tommy Anderson
2011FootlooseRen MacCormack
2012MassholesHimselfMock reality webseries
2014Kid CannabisTopher
2013CavemenPete
2014The LivingGordan
2014Lap DanceRay
2014By the GunVito Tortano
2015Instagram: A Caption StoryStuart Short Film
2015Dennis WilsonAlso choreographer
2015The Girl in the PhotographsChris
2016Tommy AndersonTelevision film
2016Erik WildwoodDirect to video
2016Fear the Walking DeadDerekSeason 2; 4 episodes
2017Happy Hunting Junior Burnside
2017High Low FortyTravis
2022Gasoline AlleyDennis Bourke

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Symkus, Ed, "Stoughton's Kenny Wormald stars in remake of 'Footloose'". The Patriot Ledger. October 8, 2011 p. 2
  2. Rodman, Sarah (October 9, 2011). "Kick off your Sunday shoes". Boston.com.
  3. Kaufman, Amy, "'Footloose' star Kenny Wormald on fame and humility". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2011
  4. Web site: 'Center Stage' sequel steps, er, turns it up - Worldnews.com . Article.wn.com . 2009-04-30 . 2012-10-08.
  5. Web site: Cavanagh . Kristie . Newcomer Kenny Wormald cast in 'Footloose' remake as Ren McCormack - New York Daily News . Articles.nydailynews.com . 2010-06-23 . 2012-10-08.
  6. Newcomer Kenny Wormald lands lead role in 'Footloose' remake . Sperling . Nicole . . . June 22, 2010 . July 13, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101002111009/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/06/22/kenny-wormald-footloose/ . October 2, 2010 . dead .
  7. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-10-11 . 2010-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100918125258/http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/newtonnews/headlines/100171404.html . dead .
  8. News: Paranormal Activity 3, Footloose Release Dates Set. ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline Media. November 17, 2010. November 18, 2010. November 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101119013150/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=71739. dead.
  9. Web site: Footloose . Rotten Tomatoes . 2012-10-08.
  10. Web site: Footloose (2011) (2011) . Box Office Mojo . 2012-01-12 . 2012-10-08.
  11. Web site: Massholes Web-series. YouTube.
  12. Web site: 'Footloose's Kenny Wormald In John Stockwell's 'Kid Cannabis'. 2015-09-28. Mike Jr.. Fleming. 15 June 2012.
  13. Web site: Film Review: 'Cavemen'. 2015-09-28. Geoff. Berkshire. 7 February 2014.
  14. Web site: 'Footloose' Star Kenny Wormald and Fran Kranz to Star in Indie 'The Living' (EXCLUSIVE). 2015-09-28. Justin. Kroll. 4 June 2013.
  15. https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2012/11/28/hollywood-boston-again/QvSq0nWaQA3nPn6VteHFIM/story.html "‘Terminales’ films at Diesel Cafe"
  16. http://jamesmottern.com/featured/slate-for-god-only-knows/ "God Only Knows"
  17. Web site: FOOTLOOSE's Kenny Wormald and More to Star in THE LIVING Indie Film. 2015-09-28.
  18. Web site: Instagram: A Caption Story. YouTube.
  19. Web site: Kenny Wormald, Jake Abel to Play Beach Boys in 'Love & Mercy' (Exclusive). 12 July 2013. 2015-09-28.
  20. Web site: The Girl in the Photographs Casts Up; Wes Craven Reunites with Shocker Star - Dread Central. 8 May 2015. 2015-09-28.
  21. Web site: Mike Stud music video (Kenny Wormald). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/uSkrlxNSjys . 2021-12-14 . live. .
  22. 'Center Stage: On Pointe' hits the dance floor in exclusive clip. Entertainment Weekly. 2016-06-26. 2016-06-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624064324/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/21/center-stage-pointe-dance-clip. dead.
  23. Web site: BWW Recap: Lord, Show Me How to Say No to Chris on FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. McHugh. Jennifer. 2016-09-07.
  24. Web site: 'Honey 3' in Production with Cassie Starring, Directed by Bille Woodruff IndieWire. Obenson. Tambay A.. www.indiewire.com. 2016-09-07.
  25. Web site: Exclusive 'Happy Hunting' Teasers Prepare for the Hunt - Bloody Disgusting. bloody-disgusting.com. 19 September 2017. en-US. 2018-02-11.
  26. News: First-Ever Mammoth Film Festival Includes Tribute to John Wayne-Starring 'North to Alaska'. Erbland. Kate. 2018-02-01. IndieWire. 2018-02-11. en-US.
  27. Web site: Polillio, Genevieve. "Tapping his way into the spotlight." The Knight (Winter 2000); retrieved January 30, 2007 . March 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070502052112/http://www.gis.net/~berniek/Winter2000/features12.html . May 2, 2007 . dead .
  28. http://www.footloosemovie.com/en_us/#t=epk-cast "Cast Bio: Kenny Wormald"
  29. http://theedge.bostonherald.com/artsNews/view.bg?articleid=177149 Woodman, Tenley Stepping up: Local dancer swings into MTV's 'Dancelife'
  30. Lawson, Richard, "The Five Most Interesting Moments of the VMAs", tv.com, September 14, 2009.
  31. Web site: J Lo's Dancelife on MTV. 29 December 2006. Popsugar.com. 2012-10-08.
  32. Web site: Catch up on Burlington community living. InsideHalton. 2012-10-08.
  33. Web site: Dancelife | Full Episodes, Photos, Episode Synopsis and Recaps. https://web.archive.org/web/20090815082500/http://www.mtv.com/shows/dancelife/series.jhtml. dead. August 15, 2009. MTV. 2012-10-08.