Adam Michael Shankman (born November 27, 1964) is an American film director, dancer, actor, judge on seasons 3 & 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, and choreographer. He directed A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Hairspray. He also danced in videos for Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. Shankman also choreographed one of the Spice Girls' tours. Shankman was born in Los Angeles, California1 to an upper middle class family.2 He had a "traditional Jewish upbringing" in Brentwood and attended The Juilliard School.3 Shankman is openly gay.45 He officiated the wedding of Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, with whom he worked while choreographing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Prior to directing Hairspray, Shankman was known in Hollywood primarily as a fixer of lowbrow films—a director who could take charge of lackluster productions that were expected to flop and turn them into box-office hits. "I've done so many things I'm not super-proud of," he admitted in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Having finally received a plum directing role in Hairspray, he added, "Now that I'm finally really proud of something, if [critics] say this one isn't good either, it will be kind of … taxing."6 Because of Shankman's experience as a dancer, he frequently adds dance or singing sequences in non-musical films he directed. As of August 2008, Hairspray has become the fourth-largest grossing American movie musical within the last 30+ years.7 "A new series about the female mayor of a small town has jumped from the back burner to the front, thanks to [Governor] Sarah Palin. The proposed show, tentatively titled "Cadillac Ranch," comes with a big-name director attached - Adam Shankman..." NYPost: PALIN, THE TV SERIES
Filmography
So You Think You Can DanceShankman was a judge/choreographer on the FOX reality show So You Think You Can Dance for seasons three and four. References
External links
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