Chandler Kinney built an impressive entertainment career by combining rigorous early dance training with versatile acting roles across television and film. Born in Sacramento and raised in Southern California, she started dancing at age three and trained at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. She secured her first professional acting role at age nine, laying the groundwork for a transition into major television and streaming projects. Her path highlights how discipline in youth athletics and the performing arts translates into sustained industry influence.
Rather than following a traditional overnight success narrative, Kinney's progression moved through steady commercial appearances, guest-starring television turns, and intensive martial arts training that earned her a black belt. Her career accelerated through distinct phases: early family-oriented television, breakout Disney fantasy roles, gritty dramatic streaming series, and a high-profile turn on reality competition television.
Early Foundations: Dance, Martial Arts, and Child Stardom
Long before landing leading roles on streaming platforms, Kinney immersed herself in physical disciplines. She trained extensively in tap, jazz, and hip-hop, developing exceptional spatial awareness and body control. At age ten, she began studying martial arts, eventually earning a first-degree black belt by age thirteen. This combination of technical dance and martial arts proved invaluable for action-heavy and physically demanding acting assignments later in life.
Her professional onscreen debut came in the 2012 feature film Battlefield America. Following that project, she appeared in national commercials and guest-starred on television shows like 90210. In 2014, she secured a recurring role in Nickelodeon's The Haunted Hathaways before transitioning to the Amazon Prime Video family series Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street. Homeschooled to accommodate her demanding production schedules, she balanced general education with professional sets during her formative teenage years. For additional background on this topic, detailed reporting can be read at E! News.
Stepping Into the Spotlight: The Disney Zombies Franchise
Kinney's mainstream visibility expanded exponentially when she joined the cast of Disney's Zombies 2 in 2020 as Willa, the fierce leader of the werewolves. Her extensive dance background enabled her to handle the high-energy choreography required for the musical fantasy films. She utilized physical acting choices—such as posture, movement cadence, and precise hand placements—to build a distinct character identity before her dialogue even began.
She reprised her role in Zombies 3 and subsequent franchise expansions, including Zombies: The Re-Animated Series and Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. This franchise work cemented her status as a bankable young talent within the family entertainment sector while showcasing her vocal and dance capabilities to a global audience.
Expanding Dramatic Range: Television and Streaming Adaptations
While maintaining her presence in family-friendly franchises, Kinney deliberately sought out mature television projects to test her range. In 2016, she joined the cast of Fox's action-drama series Lethal Weapon as Riana Murtaugh, appearing in multiple seasons and handling high-stakes dramatic scenes alongside veteran actors.
In July 2021, her career took another major leap when she was cast as Tabby Haworthe in the HBO Max horror series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (later subtitled Summer School). Playing an aspiring director and horror film aficionado allowed Kinney to explore darker, more complex thematic material. To prepare for the role, she balanced her professional commitments while taking a gap year and studying psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), ultimately stepping away temporarily from her studies to dedicate her full focus to production schedules.
Returning to Roots: Dancing with the Stars
In late 2024, Kinney returned to her original passion by competing on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Brandon Armstrong. Although her childhood training gave her a strong foundation in rhythm and musicality, ballroom dancing presented an entirely new set of technical hurdles. She frequently noted that many natural street-dance instincts had to be completely rewired to accommodate proper ballroom frame, posture, and partner reliance.
Despite the steep learning curve, Kinney and Armstrong advanced to the finale, finishing in third place. Their journey included a historic freestyle routine featuring an all-Black ensemble that paid tribute to historical Black entertainers and dancers such as the Nicholas Brothers. This performance underscored her desire to merge personal artistic expression with historical acknowledgment on national television.
Philanthropy and Industry Influence
Beyond her performance work, Kinney maintains an active commitment to community service. Alongside her mother, she founded Chandler's Friends, an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting disadvantaged youth. By coupling her professional platform with grassroots advocacy, she maintains a consistent focus on social impact outside of Hollywood production sets.
Her trajectory from a young dancer in Sacramento to a multi-genre television lead illustrates a blueprint for modern career navigation: early technical mastery, willingness to pivot across genres, and continuous personal growth through demanding physical and emotional roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role is Chandler Kinney best known for?
She is primarily recognized for playing Willa in the Disney Zombies franchise, Tabby Haworthe in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and Riana Murtaugh in Fox's Lethal Weapon.
Did Chandler Kinney win Dancing with the Stars?
No, she competed on season 33 in 2024 with partner Brandon Armstrong and finished in third place.
What martial arts background does Chandler Kinney have?
She began training in martial arts at age ten and earned a first-degree black belt by age thirteen.
Where did Chandler Kinney go to college?
She attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she majored in psychology before stepping away to focus on her acting career full-time.
