Gregg Smith(1946-2020)
- Casting Department
- Casting Director
- Additional Crew
Gregg Smith was a dancer, casting director and assistant choreographer who had a long association with director Kenny Ortega.
Smith worked as a performer in the national touring company of the musical "Hair" and in a Los Angeles production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". He was in the original off-Broadway cast of "Your Own Thing" in 1968. Smith worked as a dance casting director for numerous productions. He was also active as a champion of improving working standards for hoofers in all aspects of the entertainment industry. He was active in efforts to have dancers recognized as members of what was then the Screen Actors Guild.
Born in 1946, Smith grew up in a showbiz family in the San Fernando Valley. His father, Sterling Smith, worked for various studios as a still photographer. His aunt, Rae Lynn Burns, worked as a publicist from the 1940s through the 1970s. Smith met Ortega in the early 1970s when the two were performing in "Hair". Smith worked as a dance casting director in collaboration with Ortega (in his role as choreographer or director) on such movies as Extravagances (1995) and Les news boys (1992). The pair teamed up on numerous television specials, including telecasts of the Academy Awards, Emmys and American Music Awards.
Gregg Smith died on January 1, 2020, aged 73. Smith's survivors include his longtime partner, actor-dancer D.A. Pawley.
Smith worked as a performer in the national touring company of the musical "Hair" and in a Los Angeles production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". He was in the original off-Broadway cast of "Your Own Thing" in 1968. Smith worked as a dance casting director for numerous productions. He was also active as a champion of improving working standards for hoofers in all aspects of the entertainment industry. He was active in efforts to have dancers recognized as members of what was then the Screen Actors Guild.
Born in 1946, Smith grew up in a showbiz family in the San Fernando Valley. His father, Sterling Smith, worked for various studios as a still photographer. His aunt, Rae Lynn Burns, worked as a publicist from the 1940s through the 1970s. Smith met Ortega in the early 1970s when the two were performing in "Hair". Smith worked as a dance casting director in collaboration with Ortega (in his role as choreographer or director) on such movies as Extravagances (1995) and Les news boys (1992). The pair teamed up on numerous television specials, including telecasts of the Academy Awards, Emmys and American Music Awards.
Gregg Smith died on January 1, 2020, aged 73. Smith's survivors include his longtime partner, actor-dancer D.A. Pawley.
