Adam Shankman
Directing Born Nov 27, 1964 Los Angeles, California, USA 127 credits
Biography
Adam Shankman is a male film director born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was born on November 27, 1964. Shankman began his professional career in musical theatre and worked as a dancer in music videos for Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. He has choreographed dozens of films and directed several feature-length films, including Hairspray, Rock of Ages, and Disenchanted. Shankman's company, Offspring Entertainment, co-owned with his sister, produces films and television for various studios and networks. He was a permanent judge on seasons 6-7 of So You Think You Can Dance. Shankman has directed a total of 96 films and television shows.
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Career overview
Adam Shankman is a film director with a diverse career in the entertainment industry. He began his professional career in musical theatre and went on to work as a dancer in music videos for notable artists such as Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. Shankman has also choreographed dozens of films, showcasing his expertise in the field.
As a film director, Shankman has directed several feature-length films, including A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, and The Pacifier. He has also directed musicals such as Hairspray, Rock of Ages, and Disenchanted. Shankman's work in film has allowed him to showcase his versatility as a director, moving seamlessly between drama, comedy, and musical genres.
Shankman's directing credits include a range of notable films, demonstrating his ability to work effectively in different styles and genres. His experience as a choreographer has likely contributed to his success as a director, allowing him to bring a unique perspective to his film projects.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Stop! That! Train! · DirectorStop! That! Train! · ProducerThe Man with the Bag · Director
Hocus Pocus 2 · Executive ProducerDisenchantedDisenchanted · Executive ProducerDisenchanted · ChoreographerDisenchanted · Director
Only Murders in the Building · DirectorDear Evan Hansen · Thanks
AJ and the Queen · Director
After · Executive ProducerWhat Men Want · DirectorWhat Men Want · Executive ProducerStep Up: Year of the Dance · Producer
Step Up · DirectorStep Up · Executive ProducerStatus Update · Producer
Step Up All In · ProducerDragula · ProducerDragula · Executive ProducerDragula · Choreographer
RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsRuPaul's Drag Race All StarsRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UNTUCKEDRock of Ages · DirectorRock of Ages · Executive Producer
A Place for Us: West Side Story's Legacy
RuPaul's Drag Race: UntuckedStep Up 3D · ProducerThe Last Song · ProducerGoing the Distance · Producer
Modern Family · DirectorRuPaul's Drag RaceGlee · Director17 Again · ProducerZac Efron's Pool Party · Director
Bedtime Stories · DirectorBedtime Stories · Executive ProducerStep Up 2: The Streets · ProducerProp 8: The Musical · DirectorProp 8: The Musical · Producer
HairsprayHairspray · DirectorHairspray · ChoreographerHairspray · Executive ProducerPremonition · Producer
Step UpStep Up · Producer
Hell's KitchenSo You Think You Can DanceSo You Think You Can DanceSo You Think You Can DanceThe Pacifier
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed · Choreographer
Stuck on YouStuck on You · ChoreographerBringing Down the House · Director
Monk · DirectorScooby-Doo · ChoreographerA Walk to RememberA Walk to Remember · Director
The Wedding Planner · DirectorThe Wedding Planner · Choreographer
Mission to Mars · ChoreographerIsn't She Great · Choreographer
Blast from the Past · ChoreographerDeuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo · ChoreographerShe's All That · ChoreographerInspector Gadget · ChoreographerForces of Nature · Choreographer
Antz · ChoreographerAlmost Heroes · ChoreographerCosmo's Tale · DirectorCosmo's Tale · Writer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer · ChoreographerScream 2Scream 2 · ChoreographerBoogie Nights · ChoreographerGeorge of the Jungle · Choreographer
Mrs. Winterbourne · Choreographer
Casper · ChoreographerTank Girl · ChoreographerCongo · ChoreographerMonster Mash: The MovieMonster Mash: The Movie · Choreographer
Friends · ChoreographerThe Flintstones · ChoreographerMilk Money · ChoreographerDon Juan DeMarco · Choreographer
Addams Family Values · ChoreographerHeart and Souls · ChoreographerWeekend at Bernie's II · Choreographer
Roundhouse · ChoreographerThe Gun in Betty Lou's HandbagThe Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag · Choreographer
Midnight CabaretRockula
The Red Shoes
Full filmography
- Stop! That! Train! (2026) Director
- Stop! That! Train! (2026) Producer
- The Man with the Bag (2026) Director
- Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) Executive Producer
- Disenchanted (2022) as Grump Vendor / Kip / Skip
- Disenchanted (2022) Executive Producer
- Disenchanted (2022) Choreographer
- Disenchanted (2022) Director
- Only Murders in the Building (2021) Director
- Dear Evan Hansen (2021) Thanks
- AJ and the Queen (2020) Director
- After (2019) Executive Producer
- What Men Want (2019) Director
- What Men Want (2019) Executive Producer
- Step Up: Year of the Dance (2019) Producer
- Step Up (2018) Director
- Step Up (2018) Executive Producer
- Status Update (2018) Producer
- Step Up All In (2014) Producer
- Dragula (2014) Producer
- Dragula (2014) Executive Producer
- Dragula (2014) Choreographer
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012) as Self - Guest Judge / Choreographer
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012) as Self - Guest Judge
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UNTUCKED (2012) as Self - Guest Judge
- Rock of Ages (2012) Director
- Rock of Ages (2012) Executive Producer
- Rock of Ages (2012) Choreographer
- Step Up Revolution (2012) Producer
- Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation (2012) as Self
- A Place for Us: West Side Story's Legacy (2011) as Self
- RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (2010) as Self - Guest Judge
- Step Up 3D (2010) Producer
- The Last Song (2010) Producer
- Going the Distance (2010) Producer
- Modern Family (2009) Director
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Guest Judge
- Glee (2009) Director
- 17 Again (2009) Producer
- Zac Efron's Pool Party (2009) Director
- Zac Efron's Pool Party (2009) Producer
- 17 Again: Zac Goes Back (2009) as Self
- 17 Again: Zac's Dance Flashback (2009) as Self
- Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special (2009) Director
- Bedtime Stories (2008) Director
- Bedtime Stories (2008) Executive Producer
- Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) Producer
- Prop 8: The Musical (2008) Director
- Prop 8: The Musical (2008) Producer
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008) as Self
- Hairspray (2007) as Talent Agent
- Hairspray (2007) Director
- Hairspray (2007) Choreographer
- Hairspray (2007) Executive Producer
- Premonition (2007) Producer
- You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray" (2007) as Self
- 'Hairspray' Extentions (2007) as Self
- It's 'Hairspray'! (2007) as Self
- Portrait of a Choreographer (2007) as Self
- Hairspray: Inside the Recording Booth (2007) as Self
- Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad (2007) as Self
- Hairspray: Transforming Travolta to Turnblad (2007) as Self
- Hairspray: Playing Tracy (2007) as Self
- Step Up (2006) as Nightclub Dancer
- Step Up (2006) Producer
- Hell's Kitchen (2005) as Self - Restaurant Patron
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005)
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) as Self - Judge
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005) as Self
- The Pacifier (2005) as Driving Instructor
- The Pacifier (2005) Director
- The Pacifier (2005) Executive Producer
- Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) as Clam Bake Chef
- Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) Director
- Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) Executive Producer
- Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) Choreographer
- Stuck on You (2003) as Choreographer / Waiter
- Stuck on You (2003) Choreographer
- Bringing Down the House (2003) Director
- Monk (2002) Director
- Scooby-Doo (2002) Choreographer
- A Walk to Remember (2002) as Medical Assistant
- A Walk to Remember (2002) Director
- The Wedding Planner (2001) Director
- The Wedding Planner (2001) Choreographer
- Mission to Mars (2000) Choreographer
- Isn't She Great (2000) Choreographer
- Blast from the Past (1999) Choreographer
- Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999) Choreographer
- She's All That (1999) Choreographer
- Inspector Gadget (1999) Choreographer
- Forces of Nature (1999) Choreographer
- Dudley Do-Right (1999) Choreographer
- The Out-of-Towners (1999) Choreographer
- Antz (1998) Choreographer
- Almost Heroes (1998) Choreographer
- Cosmo's Tale (1998) Director
- Cosmo's Tale (1998) Writer
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) Choreographer
- Scream 2 (1997) as Ghost Dancer
- Scream 2 (1997) Choreographer
- Boogie Nights (1997) Choreographer
- George of the Jungle (1997) Choreographer
- The Relic (1997) Choreographer
- A Life Less Ordinary (1997) Choreographer
- Traveller (1997) Choreographer
- Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) Choreographer
- Casper (1995) Choreographer
- Tank Girl (1995) Choreographer
- Congo (1995) Choreographer
- Monster Mash: The Movie (1995) as Wolfie
- Monster Mash: The Movie (1995) Choreographer
- Miami Rhapsody (1995) Choreographer
- Friends (1994) Choreographer
- The Flintstones (1994) Choreographer
- Milk Money (1994) Choreographer
- Don Juan DeMarco (1994) Choreographer
- Addams Family Values (1993) Choreographer
- Heart and Souls (1993) Choreographer
- Weekend at Bernie's II (1993) Choreographer
- Roundhouse (1992) Choreographer
- The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992) as Timid Man
- The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992) Choreographer
- Midnight Cabaret (1990) as Waiter
- Rockula (1990) as Driver
- The Red Shoes (1983) as Shoeshoppe Customers
- Step by Step: The Dances of 'Hairspray' as Self