J.Lo’s Ex

Background:

American choreographer and actor Cris Judd, sometimes credited as Cristan Lee Judd/ Cristian L. Judd, got his professional dancing career start with the Disney before achieving a huge break as the lead dancer of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous and History tours. Since that time, he has choreographed and danced in many events like the 69th Annual Academy Awards, and in countless music videos, most notably for Jennifer Lopez’s videos “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “Ain’t It Funny.” Judd also has segued into acting, appearing in several television series as guest stars and making such films as Bringing Down the House (2003) as well as the forthcoming comedy Be My Baby (2006).

With former wife Jennifer Lopez, the popular choreographer has received a degree of notorious for their disastrous marriage. Tying the knot in 2001, the couple became estranged in June 2002 when Lopez reportedly began dating Ben Affleck. Judd and Lopez finally divorced in January 2003.

The 5’ 10” tall artist was once chosen as one of People Magazine’s “25 Hottest Bachelors” and one of In Touch Magazine’s “20 Hottest Hunks.” He won the heart of millions American audiences when he appeared on the TV show “I’m a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here” and successfully raised $200,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation when he was crowned “King of the Jungle” in a landslide viewer vote. An avid athlete, Judd has recently been discovered at the 2006 Wolf Challenge golf tournament, an event he attends every year.


Athlete Hunk

Childhood and Family:

Cristan Lee Judd was born in Abilene, Texas, on August 15, 1969 to an American father and a Filipino mother. Due to his father’s military career, young Cris had to spend years on Air Force bases in the Philippines and Hawaii. The family relocated to Florida when he was in high school. While there, the ardent athlete spent much time golfing and surfing and had four handicaps in golf. With such a bright achievement, he even thought of being a professional player after completing high school. However, he decided to continue his studies instead and attended Florida’s Okaloosa-Walton Community College.

On September 29, 2001, Cris was married to actress-singer Jennifer Lopez, whom he met in Spain when the two worked together for the music video “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” The marriage ended in divorced on January 26, 2003.


Be My Baby

Career:

While in college, Cris Judd received his first job at Disney World with pal and associate Wayne Brady, with whom he used to hang out at night clubs after work. It was at 21, when Judd entered club dance competitions and recognized for the first time that he was innate on the dance floor. A year later, he changed professions and started his career as a professional dancer for Disney.

After gaining a national level, Judd’ hard work paid off when he was recruited to dance with Michael Jackson in the 1995 MTV Video Music Award. The performance made him an immediate star, and soon after that he landed an in-demand gig to dance with Jacko on both of his tours, Dangerous and History, where he served as lead dancer for the tour. Subsequently, Judd’ choreography and dance career took flight.

He then performed with Celine Dion at the Billboard Music Awards, N’SYNC at the MTV Music Awards (both 1999), as well as Brian McKnight and Enrique Iglesias in the 2000 American Music Awards. He also performed for “Best Song” nominee “That Thing You Do” at the 69th Annual Academy Awards in 2000, and joined forces with renowned choreographer Eddie Garcia to direct the 2000 Tour for Jordan Knight. The two have continued their affiliation until now.

Judd further demonstrated his fruitful career in the following years by dancing in and choreographing countless music videos for such artists as Usher in “My Way,” Angie Martinez in “If I Could Go” and Julio Iglesias for “Tango,” and is perhaps most memorable for being background dancer in Jennifer Lopez’s hit video “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” Additionally, he became the director for the music video “Ain’t It Funny-Remix” for J.Lo and Ja Rule, and was a Creative Director for Handprint Entertainment, managing $5 million-budget and offering the NBC enormously successful concert special “Let’s Get Loud.”

The choreographer-dancer branched out into composing when in 2002 his first track, “Alive,” was chosen as the theme song for the movie Enough, starring Jennifer Lopez, and continued to be a victory on the music charts as well. In addition, Judd, who made his acting debut as a Swing Dancer in a 1999 episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” entered film industry with a cameo role as down low dancer in the Steve Martin-Queen Latifah Bringing Down the House (2003), in which he also served as choreographer for Martin’s dance scenes. He went on to appear as a guest star in television series “Half & Half” and “Eve” in 2003, and “Unfabulous” in 2004.

Returning to his dancing and choreography roots, the fame choreographer rejoined Eddie Garcia to instruct and perform seven original hip-hop dance routines to original music for an interactive dance DVD named “Dance Like We Do,” released in 2005. Also, he was planned to perform the Midnight Fantasy musical for the Luxor Resort in Las Vegas.

37-year-old Judd will costar opposite René Ashton, Brody Hutzler and Julia Duffy in the upcoming film Be My Baby (2006). The comedy film is helmed by Bryce Olson and co-written by René Ashton and Chris Kennedy.


Awards:

- Reflections: ‘Excellence in Entertainment’ for Acting, Dance and Choreography, 2005