Biography
Who is Adam Shankman?
Early life and education
Adam Shankman Michael Shankman was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in an upper-middle-class family. His mother, Phyllis, worked as a licensed practitioner in Gestalt therapy, while his father, Ned Shankman, was an entertainment lawyer who managed well-known acts like Barry White and Sister Sledge. Adam has a sister named Jennifer Shankman-Gibgot.
He attended Palisades High School before enrolling at the Juilliard School. While at Juilliard, he was accepted for both dance and acting but chose dance as his major despite having no previous formal training. He eventually left college to pursue a career in musical theater. At nineteen, he secured his first professional role in West Side Story at the Michigan Opera Theater.
Choreography and directing career
After his time in theater, Adam moved back to Los Angeles and began working as a dancer in music videos for artists such as Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. He transitioned into professional choreography after securing a job on a music video for MC Shan. Throughout the 1990s, he choreographed for various artists including Whitney Houston and Tony! Toni! Toné!. In 1996, he won a Bob Fosse Award for Best Choreography in a Commercial. His television work included choreography for Friends and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
He moved into film directing with his first feature, The Wedding Planner. Following this success, he directed several major studio films including A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, and the musical Hairspray. In 2019, he directed the comedy What Men Want starring Taraji P. Henson. He also directed the Disney film Disenchanted and the 2026 feature Stop! That! Train!.
Producing and other roles
Along with his sister, Jennifer Gibgot, Adam co-owns the company Offspring Entertainment. This production company has been involved in several studio films, including Step Up, Premonition, 17 Again, and The Last Song. The company maintains a deal with Warner Bros. Television to develop series and events for network and cable television.
Adam served as a judge and choreographer on the Fox reality show So You Think You Can Dance for several seasons. He is often credited with popularizing the term lyrical hip-hop while on the show. Also, he co-produced the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010 alongside Bill Mechanic. This broadcast received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Charitable work and stage productions
Beyond his film and television work, Adam has directed stage productions, including a 2014 version of the musical Hair at the Hollywood Bowl. The production featured an ensemble cast including Kristen Bell and Benjamin Walker. He also worked with Warner Bros. Theater Ventures to develop a stage musical based on the film 17 Again.
He supports various charitable and political organizations. He has worked with groups such as the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Feeding America, the Special Olympics, and the Motion Picture and Television Fund. He also serves on the board of The Trevor Project.
Birthday and age
Adam Shankman was born on November 27, 1964, which makes Adam 61 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Adam shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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