How old were the actors in dirty dancing
See Their Ages When They Were Filming
We can always count on having the time of our lives when we watch Dirty Dancing (pun totally intended). After all, the cast is pretty relatable and they always make us wish that we were a part of the movie. But best of all, it's amazing to see that there was such strong chemistry between the actors, regardless of their different ages. Case in point? Take Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze!
“His fearlessness with my fearfulness — it was like a marriage where you have two opposites. He would do anything and I would be scared to do anything. [But] he was really strong and very protective of me,” Jennifer exclusively told us. Talk about adorable!
It's hard to believe that it's already been 29 years since the film came out. We recently got a look at the cast then and now, and sadly, a few of our favorites, including Patrick, have passed away. But in the spirit of the classic — which currently has a remake coming to ABC — we thought we'd take a look at the actors' ages when they filmed the classic!
Believe it or not, there wasn't a single cast member who was under 25 (we thought Jennifer was way younger), and it turns out that one of these actors made their big on-screen debut with this movie!
Curious to know more? Well, just wait until you find out the ages of these talented actors!
MUST SEE: See the Cast of 'Dirty Dancing' Then and Now!
Click through the gallery to see how old the cast was when they were on Dirty Dancing!
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Vestron Pictures
CommentJennifer Grey
The actress was actually 27 years old when she portrayed 17-year-old Frances "Baby" Houseman. Jennifer now plays Judy Myers in the Amazon Studios comedy, Red Oaks.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentPatrick Swayze
The smooth and suave Johnny Castle was supposed to be 25 years old, but like Jennifer Grey, Patrick was almost ten years older (34) than the character he played. Unfortunately, the actor passed away in 2009 after suffering from pancreatic cancer.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentJane Brucker
Her character was meant to be just a few years older than Baby, but Jane was actually 29 when she starred as Baby's older sister, Lisa Houseman. She's now married to a photographer and has two daughters.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentKelly Bishop
The actress was 43 when she took on the role of Baby's mom, Marjorie Houseman. She's best known for her role as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls and she recently starred in the show's revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentCynthia Rhodes
She was 31 when she played Penny Johnson.
No one knows the exact age of her character, but since she played Johnny's dance partner, it's assumed that Penny was also supposed to be 25.
Cynthia married singer Richard Marx in 1989 and they have three sons together. However after 25 years together, the two divorced and she retired from acting so she could raise her children.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentJerry Orbach
When he played Dr. Jake Houseman, he was 52 years old. He sadly passed away at the age of 69 due to prostate cancer.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentWayne Knight
The actor was 32 when he played Stan. He's best known for his character Newman in the sitcom Seinfeld, but as of now, he's focusing on voice acting.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentJack Weston
Jack was 63 when he portrayed Max Kellerman in Dirty Dancing. He was married and he had a stepdaughter, but at the age of 71 he sadly died of lymphoma.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentNeal Jones
He was just 27 when he played Billy Kostecki, and believe it or not, this was his first ever on-screen role! He's now married and is a father.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentMiranda Garrison
The actress was 37 when she played the younger character, Vivian Pressman. She was also an assistant choreographer on the film.
She became a judge for the British reality competition series Dirty Dancing: The Time of Your Life in 2007 and 2008.
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Vestron Pictures
CommentLonny Price
Lonny was 29 years old when he played Neil Kellerman. He currently directs films and his most recent project, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, was released in 2016.
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Getty Images
CommentBehind-The-Scenes Of An 80s Movie Classic
From start to finish, the film fills audiences with feel-good vibes that would be difficult to recreate. However, when the cameras stopped rolling, the vibes were very different, and filming was quite challenging. Even if you’re a “Dirty Dancing” fanatic, you probably haven’t heard all of these dirty, behind-the-scenes facts.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey Weren’t First Picks for Lead Roles
Can you imagine Dirty Dancing without Jennifer Grey or Patrick Swayze? It’s absurd to even TRY.
Outrageous as it may sound, these two weren’t actually the first choices for the film. Val Kilmer was initially offered the role of Johnny Castle, and both Sarah Jessica Parker and Sharon Stone auditioned to play Baby.
Image via Vestron PicturesThe film almost happened without Swayze entirely. It was confirmed when filming began that Billy Zane was going to play bad-boy-turned-good Johnny, but he was pushed out of the film when people realized that he had no chemistry with Jennifer Grey.
Obviously, it was for the best.
Your Favorite Scenes Probably Weren’t Planned
Everyone remembers the film’s linchpin musical montage. You know the one: Johnny and Baby are practicing the Mambo for the big show, and Baby has a hard time stifling her giggles while Johnny looks ongoingly frustrated.
That wasn’t planned.
You’re getting a real glimpse of Jennifer Grey being insanely ticklish and Patrick Swayze being fed up with his co-star.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesRemember the scene where the two are fooling around on the dance floor to Mickey & Sylvia’s “Love Is Strange?” That wasn’t in the script either.
The two actors had no idea that the cameras were rolling, and they were merely getting into character to prepare for the scene.
The more you know.
It Wasn’t Summer When They Were Filming
When you watch the film, you may feel a nostalgic twinge inside that reminds you of summers during your youth. You’ll probably be surprised to find that it was absolutely freezing outside during the filming of the movie. The movie was filmed during a cold autumn in Virginia and North Carolina.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesTo create the feeling of summer, they had to spray paint the changing leaves green.
This means that during the scene where Baby and Johnny are practicing the famous lift in the water, the water was at a frigid temperature. That’s why the movie didn’t show any close-ups of the actors during the scene. Their blue lips would have given away the true season.
Patrick Swayze Was Battling a Knee Injury During Filming
In Swayze's book, The Time of My Life, he discusses an injury he suffered during his Broadway days that interfered with his dancing in the movie.
Swayze was known for turning down roles because of a knee issue that was severe enough to put a halt to his career. But because Swayze was seen more as a “dancer-turned-actor,” he found it difficult to stay away from dance-centered roles.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesEven though Dirty Dancing was an exception, it didn’t mean that his pain was behind him. It was revealed that Swayze struggled to hide a severe pain episode during the lake-lift, but he managed to push through it.
As an audience member watching the scene, you would never have known.
After the Film, Jennifer Grey Had a Procedure That Changed Her Career
Thanks to Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey catapulted to superstardom in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It was during this time that Grey made a decision that would change her career forever.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesGrey had a rhinoplasty done in the early ‘90s, and many critics said that this decision derailed her acting career.
Grey ended up having to go under the knife a second time due to complications that popped up from the operation. After the corrective surgery, she was so unrecognizable that she considered changing her name to restart her career from scratch. Although she decided against it, the operation essentially put a huge dent in her acting career.
In Real Life, the Actors Were Far Older Than Their Characters
We see young adults playing teenagers all the time, and sometimes, it’s a little unrealistic.
But in Dirty Dancing, the age difference between the actors and the characters didn’t jar audiences that much. In the film, Johnny is 24, and Baby is 18.
Jennifer Gray was 26 when she was cast as Baby, a character that was intended to be fresh out of high school. When Patrick Swayze was cast to play the role of Johnny in the film, he was 34 — a staggering ten years older than his character in the movie.
But to be honest, does it matter considering they played the parts so perfectly? Not really.
The Movie Almost Had a Completely Different Name
Back when the film first came out in the late 1980s, the title Dirty Dancing was a tad scandalous. The title became such an issue that censorship officers were hesitant and assumed it was a porn film.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesThank goodness this was the chosen title given that the alternative was “I Was a Teenage Mambo Queen.
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The studio stuck to their guns, and Dirty Dancing was born. Patrick Swayze, on the other hand, despised the film name. During a 1987 interview with reporter Bobbie Wygant, Swayze admitted, “I hate the title Dirty Dancing...I absolutely hate it. We all really fought to have it not called Dirty Dancing. That’s what the studio went with, so that’s what we have to be stuck with and publicize…”
The Ending Was Almost Very Different Than the One We Know
The line “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” is one of the most iconic lines in film history. Can you imagine a world where this line didn’t exist to use at our leisure?
Well, Patrick Swayze had a deep hatred for the line, and producers almost cut it completely.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesSwayze believed that the line was just TOO corny. In his book, The Time of My Life, Swayze wrote: “We did a lot of rewriting for the big final scene, but one line that I hated stayed in.
I could hardly bring myself to say: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” It sounded so corny. But, seeing the finished film, I had to admit it worked. And, of course, it became one of the most quoted lines in the movie.”
The Whole Film Was Created in Just Under Three Months
Yes, the entire movie was made in a short amount of time, and it had an incredibly tight budget. The film was put together in just under three months, which included two weeks for rehearsals. (It took only two weeks for the actors to get the complex dance movements down). The overall shooting of the footage was completed in 44 days, and we don’t even want to know what the actors' shooting schedules were like.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesThey also shot the final dance scene in a single take. Grey was extremely nervous about the lift (just like her character in the movie), and she didn’t want to practice ahead of time. When the time came to film it, the pair nailed it in a single take, which is the one you see on screen.
Everyone Thought the Film Would Flop (and It Did at First)
The film officially wrapped on October 27, 1986. However, Vestron executives thought the movie would flop. During the test screening, 39 percent of viewers had no clue that there was a subplot about Penny's (Cynthia Rhodes) terminated pregnancy.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesAfter the testing, distributors were considering sending it straight to home video. However, the repeat viewings (and enthusiastic response) to the movie's August 21, 1987 release made it an instant hit.
The film earned $64 million in North America and $170 million worldwide. The year after its release, the film won an Oscar for Best Original Song, (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life, and broke the record for being the most popular home video rental of the year.
The First Person Cast in the Film Was Cynthia Rhodes
Cynthia Rhodes was hired to play Penny before any of the other characters were cast.
Rhodes was building up her resume as an actress at the time, appearing in films such as Flashdance, and Staying Alive with John Travolta. Dirty Dancing, was the film that slingshotted her career forward.
The only issue that the director and producers had with Rhodes was her beauty. During the scene where Penny was supposed to be in excruciating pain, Rhodes' performance wasn’t convincing enough because she still looked “too beautiful.” (Imagine having that problem.)
Stylists had to cover her in makeup to make her look bland and sweaty. She rode out the high of her career by joining Los Angeles pop group Animotion as their lead singer and stayed with them until 1990.
The Film Was Largely Based on Screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein’s Experiences
The screenwriter of the film, Eleanor Bergstein, based the movie on her experiences during the 1960s.
Her family was originally from Brooklyn, and her father was a doctor. Like Baby, Bergstein and her family visited the Catskills every summer where she would get into different shenanigans like Baby and her sister do in the film.
It was during their trips to the Catskills that Bergstein earned the nickname “Baby” which stuck with her until her twenties.
Image via Vestron PicturesWhere did the dancing portion stem from? Bergstein had an experience with a dance instructor who was way older than she was.
We love a good scandal, especially when it inspires an incredible movie!
Dirty Dancing Wasn’t the First Movie Swayze and Grey Did Together
The first movie that the two actors starred in together was the 1984 film Red Dawn. Rumor has it that this is where the tension in their relationship began. Perhaps that’s why producers were hesitant to cast Swayze opposite Grey in the movie.
Image via MGM/UA Entertainment CompanyRegardless, the pair were able to look past their differences (sort of) long enough to make a classic, culturally seminal movie.
Years after the film, Grey admitted to The Hollywood Reporter, that “...his fearlessness with my fearfulness...together was like a marriage where you have two opposites. He’d do anything, and I’d be scared to do anything.”
Excuse us... WE JUST NEED A MOMENT ALONE.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey Didn’t Exactly Get Along
It may be disappointing to hear, but the two actors didn’t exactly have a natural connection on set. It’s rumored that although the pair shared undeniable chemistry on film (that’s good acting!), they would get into arguments before the cameras started rolling.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesIn Swayze’s autobiography, he recalled: “We did have a few moments of friction when we were tired after a long day of shooting. She seemed particularly emotional, sometimes bursting into tears if someone criticized her. Other times, she slipped into silly moods, forcing us to do scenes over and over again when she’d start laughing.
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However, we refuse to accept this little tidbit because Johnny + Baby = Forever.
Swayze Said the Film Endured Because of Its Heart
During an interview with AFI, Swayze felt he had a pretty good idea as to why the film has endured with audiences for so long.
Image via Vestron PicturesHe said: “It’s got so much heart, to me. It’s not about the sensuality; it’s really about people trying to find themselves, this young dance instructor feeling like he’s nothing but a product, and this young girl trying to find out who she is in a society of restrictions when she has such an amazing take on things. On a certain level, it’s really about the fabulous, funky little Jewish girl getting the guy because [of] what she’s got in her heart.”
We’re not crying...you are.
Penny’s Pregnancy in the Movie Was A HUGE Deal
Many brands caught on quite early that the film would be a big hit with young people. The famous acne skin-care company Clearasil initially wanted to join as a promotional sponsor, but they pulled out.
In the 1960s, when Dirty Dancing takes place, terminating a pregnancy was illegal in the U.S., and because of Penny’s subplot in the film, Clearasil decided to back out.
Producers begged screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein to take out the storyline, but she refused, saying, “Hey I would love to, but I can’t, because if I take it out, everything will fall apart. There’s no reason for Baby to meet Johnny, for Penny not to be able to dance, for Baby to learn to dance with Johnny, for her to make love with Johnny - there’s no story without that.”
After the First Film’s Success, Studios Wanted to Pay Big Money for a Sequel
After the first film’s success, studios wanted to cash in on a sequel immediately. Swayze was offered big money —$6 million, to be exact — to return for the sequel as Johnny. Swayze, who wasn’t a fan of doing sequels, declined.
Swayze knew that they wouldn’t be able to reprise the magic of the first film, and fans applauded him for his decision.
Studios ended up doing a second film anyway, called Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and it (obviously) didn’t compare to the original. Billed as a "re-imagining" of the original, the film released in 2004, a full 17 years later. The only thing the two films had in common were the words Dirty Dancing in the title.
Filming Was a 24/7 Party
During the lodge staff’s dancing scenes, the goal was to create a realistic party setting. To make that happen, director Emile Ardolino pretty much threw a party every day. Dance rehearsals often turned into disco parties, and the cast would have drinks and dance around to let loose.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesThis tactic ended up being an excellent way for the actors to get to know each other and create a more relaxed atmosphere. It also led to a lot of improvising by the cast while the cameras were rolling, which was encouraged.
The Role of Stan Was Wayne Knight’s Big Break
Watching the film today, you might be surprised to see a big-time actor like Wayne Knight playing such a small role. Well, when Knight received the part, he had only done a few minor television and commercial roles. It was after his portrayal of a hilarious comedian who performed in the lodge talent show that his career blew up.
Image via Vestron PicturesHe went on to star in other films such as Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, and Basic Instinct. After seeing his role in Basic Instinct, Steven Spielberg cast him in Jurassic Park.
He would go on to land the recurring role of mailman Newman on Seinfeld.
The Cast and Crew Believed the Set Was Cursed
When everyone finally buckled down and filming began, there was a sudden halt to production.
On the sixth day, things started going haywire. In just a short period, some of the crew’s property was stolen. There was flooding on the streets surrounding the set, and one of the vans was destroyed. One of the set decorators fell off a ladder and hurt himself. The second assistant director broke her wrist, and the wardrobe assistant broke her toe. Then, three of the crew members wound up with food poisoning.
A month before the end of the shoot, the lead makeup artist quit and went home for personal reasons. That same day, a wasp infestation was discovered, and Jennifer Grey’s arms were covered in stings.
By the time filming was complete, one producer was so dissatisfied with the footage that he suggested they should “burn the negatives and collect the insurance.”
Mountain Lake Lodge Still Has ‘Dirty Dancing’ Weekends
If you want to experience the setting of Dirty Dancing first-hand, then you can stay in the Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia.
Not only can you stay there, but the resort also hosts three Dirty Dancing-themed weekends every year.
During these weekends, you can take dance lessons, enjoy a walking tour of the grounds, participate in a Dirty Dancing-themed scavenger hunt, and play trivia games.
Heidi Stone, the hotel’s manager, says, “It’s amazing how many thousands of Dirty Dancing fans we meet every summer. We have guests from all over the world that come to Mountain Lake Lodge just for the Dirty Dancing weekends.”
‘She’s Like the Wind’ Wasn’t Made for the Film
The soundtrack for the film was a hit, and people fell in love with the dramatic ballad “She's Like The Wind,” that plays during Johnny and Baby's goodbye scene.
The song was originally written by Patrick Swayze and Stacy Widelitz for the movie Grandview U.S.A, about Swayze’s relationship with Jamie Lee Curtis’s character, but it was dropped.
As a last resort, Swayze showed it to the Dirty Dancing producers who immediately fell in love with the tune and wanted it in the movie.
Had the song not been picked up by producers, Swayze would have let the song sit and waste away.
Kelly Bishop Got the Role of Baby’s Mom by Chance
Kelly Bishop may have looked like she was made for the role of Baby’s mom, but that wasn’t the role she was given originally. She had initially been cast as Vivian Pressman, the cougar who seduces Johnny during their “dance lessons,” while the role of Mrs. Houseman was given to Lynne Lipton.
Image via NetflixThe role was given to Bishop after Lipton caused scheduling problems due to an illness that forced her to leave the set regularly. When Bishop took the part of Mrs. Houseman, the role of Vivian was given to assistant choreographer, Miranda Garrison. After the film, Kelly Bishop was cast as Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls.
Patrick Swayze Did All His Own Stunts
Ok, so Dirty Dancing wasn’t a film full of blazing gunfire and insane stunts. Nevertheless, Swayze was adamant about doing all his scenes on his own.
In the scene where Johnny and Baby dance on the log over the river, Swayze kept falling off. Apparently, he hit his already-injured knee a few times, causing even more damage.
Image via Vestron PicturesHe had to have the fluid drained from his knee to reduce the swelling and avoid a bigger problem. Seeing as he was already suffering from a knee problem beforehand, the situation had to be handled with the utmost delicacy.
Regardless, knowing that Swayze did everything on his own makes the movie even more iconic.
Bill Medley Thought He Was Hired to Make a Song for a “Bad Porno”
Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes were the voices behind the famous song, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” but at first, Medley was confused about what the song was for.
Medley quipped, “It sounds like a bad porno movie." He rejected the song because his wife was expecting a child.
It took months of convincing to get Medley to do the song. After finishing, he didn’t think that the movie would be popular.“We just went in to work together, to sing together, and little did we know it was going to be the biggest movie of the year. Just unbelievable,” he later reflected.
The song wound up selling more than 500,000 copies.
There Are Many References to the Film in Today’s Pop Culture
The final lift scene has become iconic over the years and has made plenty of appearances in pop culture.
In the 2012 movie Crazy, Stupid, Love with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the two actors reference the movie and give the lift a go. During the scene, Gosling admits to Stone's character that he gets women to do the move with him as a ploy to get them into bed.
Jennifer Grey admitted when she saw the film that she was totally shocked. She told Yahoo!: “I’m just such a fan of Ryan Gosling and all of a sudden he’s saying my name [in the movie]. I’m just in the theater with my husband, and I look at him like, ‘Oh my God, Ryan Gosling just said my name. What’s going on?’”
On ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,’ Medley and Warner Represent Older Versions of Johnny and Baby
Bill Medley told Rolling Stone,: “I’m kind of supposed to be Swayze on the record, and Jennifer’s voice kind of fit Jennifer Grey’s character.” The two singers wanted to connect with the characters as much as possible, so they recorded the song with footage from the film rolling in the studio.
Image via Vestron PicturesMedley recalls: “We sang to each other and to the movie. When he raised her up in the air, I knew it had to be joyful, and that’s why there’s a real spirit and joy in the vocals.
That’s not fake. We were having a good time.”
The Film Reflected Eleanor Bergstein’s Jewish Upbringing
Kellerman’s Resort may have been a fictional place, but it was based on a real resort. The concept of Kellerman’s was based on the Borscht Belt — a number of vacation resorts in the Catskill Mountains that once attracted a lot of Jewish Americans.
Jewish American families would come and visit these resorts for the summer between 1920 and 1980, Bergstein’s family included.
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesThere have been a handful of famous A-listers who started their careers performing at these resorts, including Joan Rivers and Jerry Seinfeld.
Bergstein even pointed out to TabletMag.com, “It’s a Jewish film, if you know what you’re looking at.” Many of the resorts have since closed their doors and no longer exist.
Johnny Was Originally Supposed to Be Italian
We can’t think of Johnny Castle being any other way than how Swayze embodied him, but producers originally had a different idea when it came to the famous bad boy.
In the original script, Johnny Castle was an Italian dancer who had a “dark, exotic look.” This is probably why Billy Zane was the original choice for the role.
Image via Paramount PicturesThe issue with Billy Zane was that he was lacking in the dance department. The producers’ saving grace was finding Swayze, who had an extensive background in dancing on Broadway.
The only problem? He didn’t look Italian! Producers decided to change Johnny Castle’s heritage to Irish.
The Characters Were Based on Real People
It’s already been mentioned that Baby was based on Bergstein’s experiences growing up, but other characters were also based on real people from Bergstein’s childhood.
Although many of the characters were inspired by people from her summers in the Catskills, she couldn’t contact them for help. She has mentioned, “My old partners are either in jail or out on parole….it was a very rough neighborhood.”
Image via Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron PicturesWhen Bergstein began researching for the film, she met dance instructor Michael Terrace in the Catskills, who was the basis of Johnny Castle’s character.
It sounds like Dirty Dancing is basically a biography about Bergstein's life!
The film "Dirty Dancing" (1987): actors and roles, photos then and now, trailer
Content
- Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)
- Jennifer Gray (1960)
- Jerry Orbach (1935 - 2004)
- Kelly Bishop (1944)
- Cynthia Rhodes (1956)
- Jane Brooker (1958)
- Jack Weston (1924 - 1996)
- Dirty Dancing Movie Trailer (Video):
The melodramatic picture "Dirty Dancing" directed by Emil Ardolino first saw the light at 1987 year. The film was originally planned to be low-budget, but the tape was a success at the box office, and the soundtrack “(I've Had) The Time of My Life” became a platinum disc. After that, the sequel “Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights” was released, as well as the musical of the same name.
In the center of the plot is a story about the acquaintance of two young people from different social strata, between whom mutual sympathy arises.
The actors who played the main roles in the film "Dirty Dancing", as well as their photos then and now - in the material of the editors of 24SMI.
Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)
Dirty Dancing movie: actor Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle - then and in recent yearsAmerican actor Patrick Swayze played the role of professional dancer Johnny Castle in the movie Dirty Dancing. This character helped the actor to become the most famous, in his filmography such pictures as “Road House” and “Ghost” appeared.
It is noteworthy that it was easy to play the professional dancer Swayze, since the actor had been dancing since childhood. Among his childhood hobbies also appear martial arts, he received a black belt in kung fu. In addition to acting, Patrick wrote and performed songs.
In 2008, it became known that Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and after a while the actor said that timely treatment helped to stop the growth of the tumor. In 2009, doctors reported metastases in Patrick's liver, and on September 14, the actor died.
Jennifer Gray (1960)
"Dirty Dancing" movie: actress Jennifer Gray as Baby - then and nowAmerican actress Jennifer Gray in "Dirty Dancing" played Frances "Baby" Houseman, a girl from a wealthy family. It is noteworthy that the picture was released a couple of weeks after the accident in Northern Ireland. Then the actress was driving with actor Matthew Broderick, the car drove into the oncoming lane and crashed into the car of a 30-year-old woman and her mother. Both women died on the spot. Gray said that the grief from what happened prevented her from enjoying the triumph.
In the early 90s, Jennifer had two rhinoplasty surgeries and became almost unrecognizable. The career of the actress was not entirely successful, after "Dirty Dancing" she was invited only to secondary or episodic roles. In 2010, Gray took part in the American show "Dancing with the Stars", after which there was a lull in her career.
Jerry Orbach (1935-2004)
Dirty Dancing: actor Jerry Orbach as Jake Houseman - then and in recent years American actor Jerry Orbach played the role of Jake Houseman, Baby's father, in the film Dirty Dancing.
After that, the artist began to appear more and more often in films and on television, however, mostly playing secondary characters. Orbach's huge popularity was brought by the character Lenny Briscoe, whom he played for 12 years in the TV series Law & Order.
Jerry Orbach passed away in 2004 after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. In 2005, the US Screen Actors Guild posthumously awarded the actor an award for best performance in Law & Order.
Kelly Bishop (1944)
Film "Dirty Dancing": actress Kelly Bishop as Marjorie Houseman - then and now American actress Kelly Bishop, who played Baby's mother Marjorie Houseman, dreamed of becoming a ballerina since childhood. The artist's dream partially came true, she participated in Broadway musicals, for which she even received Tony and Drama Desk awards. In addition to her career as a dancer, Bishop made her way into the movies, playing several minor roles. The popularity of the actress was brought by the character of Emily Gilmore in the TV series Gilmore Girls.
After filming ended, Bishop returned to the theater and in 2012 starred in the TV series Ballerinas. The actress is married to TV presenter Lee Leonard, the couple has no children.
Cynthia Rhodes (1956)
Dirty Dancing Movie: Actress Cynthia Rhodes as Penny Johnson - Then and NowAmerican actress and singer Cynthia Rhodes played Johnny's dance partner Penny Johnson in Dirty Dancing. This helped her become famous, after which Rhodes starred in the film "The Curse of the Crystal Eye." In addition, Cynthia acted as a dancer in video clips, where she met singer Richard Marks, from whom she had three children.
In 1991, Rhodes decided to end her creative career, devoting all her free time to her children. In 2014, the actress divorced her husband, nothing more is known about her life.
Jane Brooker (1958)
The film "Dirty Dancing": actress Jane Brooker as Lisa Houseman - then and now The role of Lisa Houseman, Baby's sister, was the biggest in the career of American actress Jane Brooker.
After that, she got only episodic roles in the films Steal a House and Doctor, Doctor. Brooker was once misquoted by the media as Dirty Dancing was to blame for her failed career. In 2012, the actress herself denied these words, noting that she was extremely grateful for being part of this film.
After finishing her acting career, Brooker devoted herself to raising her daughters. In addition, Jane does charity work and writes songs.
Jack Weston (1924-1996)
Dirty Dancing movie: actor Jack Weston as Max Kellerman - then and in recent yearsAmerican actor Jack Weston played boarding house owner Max Kellerman in the movie Dirty Dancing. When the actor began acting in the film, his career was slowly coming to an end. He performed his best roles in the tapes "Enthusiastic Scene", "Imitation of Life", etc. After playing in the cult film, Weston appeared as minor characters in "Ishtar" and "Short Circuit-2".
In 1990, it became known that the actor was struggling with a serious illness.
Jack Weston died in 1996 from lymphoma (blood cancer).
Dirty Dancing also starred Lonnie Price, Max Cantor, Miranda Garrison, Bruce Morrow and others. : details
Editor's choice
- Photo
- still from the movie
Dirty Dancing turns 30 this year! ABC decided to mark this event with a remake. On May 24, the musical version of "Dirty Dancing" aired. The role of Baby was played by a young actress Abigail Breslin, and professional dancer Colt Prattes became the new Johnny.
However, so far the new film has received only sheer criticism. Perhaps it's the die-hard fans of the old version who aren't ready to accept anyone other than Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze.
In the meantime, critics smash the remake of the cult melodrama, let's remember how the fate of the actors of "Dirty Dancing" version 19 turned out87 years old.
Patrick Swayze (Johnny Castle)
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- still from the film, Getty Images
Patrick was 34 years old when he was cast as Johnny the dancer at Max Kellerman's summer boarding house. His candidacy was first called into question. Still, Patrick was 10 years older than his character. However, on the screen between him and Jennifer Gray there was such chemistry that all doubts disappeared.
At the same time, Patrick had already been married for 12 years to actress Lisa Niemi, whom he had known as a teenager. Yes, and with Jennifer behind the scenes, as it turned out, he did not have a very warm relationship - the actors did not like each other during filming.
After Dirty Dancing, Patrick appeared in the films Roadhouse and Ghost, as well as other less significant films. And he was also recognized as the sexiest man on the planet.
In 2004, Swayze was given a small role in Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights. And 4 years later, the world learned that the actor was fighting pancreatic cancer. But even despite the terrible diagnosis, Patrick continued to work. He managed to star in one season of the TV series "The Beast" before he succumbed to the disease.
He passed away in September 2009.
“Patrick had a rare combination of raw masculinity and surprising subtlety. He was beautiful and strong, a real cowboy with a tender heart, said his Dirty Dancing partner Jennifer Gray after the death of the actor. He was fearless and always insisted on doing all his own stunts. It is not surprising that he fought cancer with such courage and dignity. When I think about Patrick, I remember how he held me in his arms, how we danced, practiced climbs in the icy lake and had fun doing this simple film that we thought no one would see.
Jennifer Gray (Baby)
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- still from the film, Getty Images
The actress made her film debut in 1984 with small roles in the films "Reckless", "Red Dawn" and "Club Cotton" Francis Ford Coppola.
And now, three years later, she had the good fortune to play the 17-year-old Francis Houseman, nicknamed Baby, who falls in love with the sophisticated dancer Johnny. At the same time, she, like Swayze, was 10 years older than her heroine.
By the way, this was not the first collaboration between Jennifer and Patrick. The first time they starred together in the film "Red Dawn". However, it was for the role of Baby Jennifer that she received her only nomination for the Golden Globe Award in her creative career.
A couple of years after Dirty Dancing, Jennifer decided to get a nose job. The actress thought that the new look would help her in her career, but the opposite effect happened - she lost her individuality. They say it was the new nose that caused the collapse of Jennifer's career.
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- still from the movie
“I went into the operating room as a celebrity and came out as nothing,” she said in 2012.
— This was a terrible rhinoplasty! I will forever remain a famous actress that no one will recognize because of a nose job.”
Although it cannot be said that Jennifer was unemployed. But mostly they were TV shows. One of the latest is the Red Oaks series.
In 2010, Gray participated in the American "Dancing with the Stars", during a physical before the show, she learned that she had thyroid cancer. But she started treatment on time, so the disease receded. At the same time, she won the show!
“This dance experience was much harder than Dirty Dancing. There I taught almost one dance for 1.5 months. And the show had a new dance every four days. This is a completely different level, much more difficult, ”she later shared.
The actress had affairs with actors Matthew Broderick, William Baldwin and Liam Neeson. She was even engaged to Johnny Depp. In 2001, Jennifer married actor Clark Gregg. Their daughter Stella is 15 years old.
Jerry Orbach (Jake Houseman - Baby's father)
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- still from the film, Getty Images
Jerry had quite a rich track record even before Dirty Dancing.
He starred in serials, movies, performed on stage. Back at 19In 1955, the actor made his Broadway debut in the production of The Threepenny Opera and in the same year made his first appearance on the big screen.
After his role in Dirty Dancing, Orbach began to appear more and more on television. Great success brought him the role of detective Lenny Briscoe in the TV series Law & Order, which he played for 12 years - from 1991 to 2004.
He also voiced Lumière's candelabra in Beauty and the Beast.
Jerry Orbach has been married twice. From the first brother left two sons. Orbach's second wife, Broadway actress and dancer Elaine Kansila, was with him until his death.
The actor died in 2004 from prostate cancer, which he had been battling for 10 years. In February 2005, the US Screen Actors Guild posthumously awarded Orbach the Best Actor Award for Law & Order. And in 2007, one of the streets of New York was named after him.
Kelly Bishop (Marjorie Houseman - Baby's mother)
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- still from the film, Getty Images
Like Jerry Orbach, Bishop was famous even before filming Dirty Dancing.
At 19In 1976, she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in the Broadway musical Card De Ballet, which would later be called a cult.
She originally auditioned for the role of Vivian Pressman, one of the vacationers at the boarding house, with whom Johnny had an affair. But when the actress who played Marjorie fell ill, Kelly was offered the role of Baby's mom.
“Jerry Orbach whispered in my ear, 'Take this role. She's better," Kelly said in an interview. — So I did. Jerry then took me under his wing."
After that there were several works in series and film roles, including shooting in the film "Parts of the Body" and "Geeks". From 2000 to 2007, Bishop played one of her favorite roles - Emily Gilmore in the television series Gilmore Girls.
By the way, in 2011 Kelly played in a Broadway production with Joel Grey, the father of her Dirty Dancing co-star Jennifer Grey.
Bishop is married. The couple has no children.
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- still from the movie
Cynthia Rhodes (Penny Johnson - Johnny's partner)
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- still from the film, Getty Images
The American actress and dancer before filming Dirty Dancing managed to light up in the films Flashdance and Lost.
Until the 90s, she sang in the pop-rock group Animotion.
Acted in video clips as a dancer. In one of them, Cynthia met her future husband, singer Richard Marks. They have been married for 25 years. Cynthia bore Richard three sons. In 2014, the couple announced their divorce.
Cynthia is now 60 years old. She has not acted since 1991, deciding to devote herself to children.
Jane Brooker (Lisa Houseman - Baby's sister)
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- frame from the movie
This was the biggest role in Jane Brooker's career. After that, there were only episodes in the movie Steal a House and in the TV series Doctor, Doctor.
Jane was once misquoted as saying that Dirty Dancing was to blame for the failure of the actress on screen. But in 2012, she denied these words: “I don’t blame Dirty Dancing at all for my dull career.”
“I think Dirty Dancing made me seem like a terrible singer,” added Jane, however.
“But I am extremely grateful to have been a part of this film.”
Jane is now 59 years old. She has an adult daughter. Jane does volunteer work. In addition, Brooker co-wrote the songs for the musical Dirty Dancing in 2014.
Jack Weston (Max Kellerman - owner of the boarding house)
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- frame from the film
When "Dirty Dancing" was released, the career of Jack Weston, who at that time was 63 years old, was coming to a close. All the best roles were already behind.
A veteran of World War II, Jack began acting on television in serials. He has also appeared in big movies: Caught on the Stage, where Oscar-winning Henry Fonda was his partner, Imitation of Life with Lana Turner and Sandra Dee, Please Don't Eat Daisies! with Doris Day and in the film "All the Work for One Night".
Weston also starred in films with Jerry Lewis, Audrey Hepburn, Goldie Hawn, Sean Connery and other movie stars, played on Broadway.
After Dirty Dancing, Weston played only two small roles in Ishtar and Short Circuit 2 in the late 80s.
He died in 1996 at the age of 72 from lymphoma.
Lonnie Price (Neil Kellerman - the grandson of the owner of the boarding house)
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- film frame, Getty Images
Lonnie played a rich boy who tried to charm Baby. Prior to Dancing, Price appeared in the comedy The Muppets in Manhattan. However, the role in "Dirty Dancing" has become the most famous of Price's entire career. Then there were roles in TV shows, including two episodes of Law & Order.
He also made a name for himself on Broadway as a screenwriter and director.
Today, 58-year-old Lonnie is on the other side of the cell. He directed several episodes of Desperate Housewives, 2 Broke Girls, and Live at Lincoln Center.
