Cristan Leenon "Cris" Judd is an American actor and choreographer known
for his brief marriage to Jennifer Lopez.
Early life Before Hollywood, Judd spent his early
years growing up on Air Force bases in Angeles City in the Philippines and
Hawaii. His mother is Filipina, his father Larry is Portuguese. The Air
Force then moved his family to Niceville, Florida, where he attended
Niceville High School. While in Florida, Judd, an avid athlete, spent a lot of
time surfing and golfing. With a golf handicap of four, he even considered
going pro after graduation, but instead decided to go to college. While in
college, he landed his first job at Disney World with friend and colleague,
Wayne Brady. Dance career
At age 21, Judd became interested in dance. Within a year, he switched jobs
and began dancing professionally with Disney. He was hired to dance with
Michael Jackson for the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards and then danced with
Jackson on the HIStory Tour, eventually becoming lead dancer for the tour. In
1999, he performed at the Billboard Music Awards with Celine Dion, the MTV
Music Awards with N'SYNC, and in 2000 at the American Music Awards with Enrique
Iglesias and Brian McKnight, and for "Best Song" nominee That Thing You Do at
the 69th Annual Academy Awards. Judd also teamed up for the first time with
choreographer Eddie Garcia, a collaboration that continues to this
day, to choreograph the 2000 Tour for Jordan Knight.
Judd choreographed numerous music videos including My Way for Usher, Jump, Jive,
& Wail for the Brian Setzer Orchestra, If I Could Go for Angie Martinez and
Tango for Julio Iglesias. He also directed the music video, Ain't It
Funny-Remix, with Ja Rule. Judd then became creative director for Handprint
Entertainment, overseeing a $5 million budget and delivering then wife,
Jennifer Lopez's NBC concert special Let's Get Loud, which was filmed at the
Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Judd appeared as a back-up dancer for ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez's music videos
Love Don't Cost a Thing, Play, and I'm Real, and appeared in her I'm Gonna Be
Alright video. Judd and his former business partner
Eddie Garcia produced an interactive dance DVD released in summer 2005, and
has prepared the Midnight Fantasy musical for the Luxor Resort in Las
Vegas. In 2009, Judd took part in the 2009 MTV
Video Music Awards opening dance tribute to the late King of Pop, and former
mentor Michael Jackson. Judd took part in the dance performance of "Scream",
the duet number between Michael, and Michael's sister Janet Jackson, where
Janet danced alongside Judd, and other famous dance choreographers like Travis
Payne, Tina Landon, Brian Friedman, and Wade Robson whom all worked with both
Michael, and Janet Jackson. Dance performance included Laurie Ann Gibson
and Tyce Diorio. Judd is currently a faculty
member/instructor for The PULSE on Tour. Acting
Judd guest-starred on Unfabulous with Emma Roberts, has appeared on Eve, Half
and Half, and Everybody Loves Raymond, and in Bringing Down the House where he
also served as choreographer for Steve Martin's dance scenes.
Judd appeared as Elliot in the film Goyband.
Reality television Judd's television debut was on the first
season of the American series of I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here. He beat
out all the other contestants, earning $200,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation
when he was crowned "King of the Jungle" in a viewer vote.
In 2006, Judd hosted the reality version of Dirty Dancing, and in 2008 was a
judge on Lifetime's Your Mama Don't Dance.
In 2008 Judd appeared in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians as a
choreographer/friend of Kris Jenner. In 2009 Judd appeared on the reality TV
series Bad Girls Club where he choreographed their opening dance
performance for FANTASY, an adult dance revue at the Luxor hotel.
In 2012, Judd appeared in The Real Housewives of New Jersey, as a
choreographer hired by Melissa Gorga. In 2013 Judd was announced as one of the
judges in the third series of New Zealand's Got Talent.
Personal life Judd met Jennifer Lopez in Spain in late
2000.when he was hired to direct her music video for "Love Don't Cost a
Thing". They were married on September 29, 2001. The marriage ended in June
2002. He composed the song, "Alive", which was selected as the theme song for
the movie Enough. Judd married Kelly A. Wolfe in Laguna
Beach, California in November 2009. They welcomed their first child, a daughter
named Vivienne Lee Judd, on September 19, 2013.
References External links
Movement Management Cris Judd at the Internet Movie Database