Kenny Wormald Bio
Kenny Wormald is an American dancer, actor, and choreographer who gained widespread recognition for his role as Ren McCormack in the 2011 remake of the classic 1984 film Footloose. Born in Massachusetts, Wormald first established himself in the entertainment industry through his exceptional dance abilities before transitioning into acting. His career has spanned film, television, and music videos, showcasing his versatility as a performer.
Wormald began performing at a young age and quickly developed a reputation for his dance talents. He moved to Los Angeles after high school to pursue his professional career. His breakthrough role in Footloose launched him into mainstream recognition, leading to various opportunities in both dance and acting projects throughout the 2010s.
Early Life and Background
Kenny Wormald was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to parents Melanie and Edgar K. Wormald. He grew up in the Boston area alongside his two brothers, Lee and Dylan. Wormald attended Stoughton High School, where he graduated in 2002 before making the decision to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue his entertainment career.
Wormald discovered his passion for dance at the age of six after his mother noticed him dancing to a New Kids on the Block video. He began formal training shortly after and quickly excelled in competitive dance. His early exposure to dance laid the foundation for his future career in the entertainment industry.
During his teenage years, Wormald achieved significant success in dance competitions. At age 13, he won the Master Dance of New England and was named Junior Mr. Dance of New England. By age 14, he earned the title of Teen Dancer of Boston. At 15, he was named Teen Mr. Dance of New England, cementing his status as a rising dance talent.
Path to Acting
Wormald’s dance achievements led to high-profile opportunities early in his career. In 1996, he was selected to perform for President Bill Clinton at the White House as part of the annual Easter celebration. In 2002, he won the gold medal at the World Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany, for a tap dance routine. These accomplishments helped establish his reputation in the dance community.
His professional dance career expanded to include work with major music artists. Wormald appeared in music videos for Madonna, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, BoA, and JoJo. He also worked as a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake and The Pussycat Dolls tours, gaining valuable industry experience.
In 2006, Wormald joined the cast of the MTV reality television series Dancelife, produced by Jennifer Lopez. The show followed a group of aspiring dancers trying to make it in Hollywood. This exposure helped transition his career toward on-screen acting opportunities, leading to his first film roles in the mid-2000s.
Kenny Wormald Career
Early Career (2004-2010)
Kenny Wormald made his film debut in January 2004 as a dancer in the movie You Got Served. This dance film introduced him to the movie industry and showcased his talents on the big screen. His performance in the film helped establish his presence in the entertainment world beyond just live dance performances.
In April 2008, Wormald was confirmed to make his acting debut in the Oxygen cable network television film Center Stage: Turn It Up as the male lead. The film served as a sequel to the 2000 dance film Center Stage and premiered in November 2008. This role marked Wormald’s transition from primarily dance-focused work to acting as a central character.
Breakthrough (2011-2015)
In June 2010, Paramount Pictures announced that Wormald was cast as the protagonist in the planned remake of the 1984 dance drama film Footloose. The role of Ren McCormack had previously been attached to actors Zac Efron and Chace Crawford before both dropped out of the project. Filming took place in 2010 on a $24 million budget with Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid confirmed to star alongside Wormald.
Footloose was released on October 14, 2011, to generally positive reviews from critics. The film grossed over $62 million worldwide at the box office, proving to be a commercial success. Wormald’s performance as Ren McCormack received mixed reviews from critics, but the film established him as a leading man in Hollywood.
Following Footloose, Wormald continued to build his acting resume with various roles. In 2012, he starred in the mock reality web series Massholes. In 2013, he had a main role as Topher in the film Kid Cannabis and played Pete in the movie Cavemen. In 2014, Wormald starred as Gordan in The Living and had a role as Vito Tortano in By The Gun, directed by James Mottern. He also played Ray in the film Lap Dance.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2015, Wormald appeared as Dennis Wilson in the indie film Love & Mercy, a biographical drama about Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson. That same year, he starred as Chris in the horror film The Girl in the Photographs. He also directed and appeared in Mike Stud’s After Hours music video, showcasing his skills behind the camera. Wormald reprised his role as Tommy Anderson in Center Stage: On Pointe in 2016 and guest starred as Derek in Fear the Walking Dead. He also starred as Erik Wildwood in Honey 3: Dare to Dance. In 2017, Wormald played Junior Burnside in Happy Hunting and Travis in High Low Forty.
Kenny Wormald Family
Kenny Wormald was born to parents Melanie and Edgar K. Wormald in Stoughton, Massachusetts. He has two brothers named Lee and Dylan. The family supported his early interest in dance, with his mother being the first to notice his talent when he was dancing to a music video as a young child.
Personal Life
Kenny Wormald married Daniela DeSilva in 2014. The couple was married until 2015. Following his divorce, Wormald was in a relationship with Lauren Bennett. He has one child from his relationship with Bennett. Wormald has maintained a relatively private personal life while continuing his work in the entertainment industry.