In the summer of 1987, Dirty Dancing became a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its passionate story of romance and dance set in Kellerman’s resort. The film, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, not only delivered iconic dance sequences and a memorable soundtrack but also launched the careers of its talented cast. Decades later, fans are still eager to know what happened to the beloved Cast Of Dirty Dancing. Let’s revisit Kellerman’s and find out where the stars of Dirty Dancing are now.
Jennifer Grey (Frances “Baby” Houseman)
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Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman; Jennifer Grey. Artisan Entertainment/courtesy Everett; Neilson Barnard/Getty
Jennifer Grey, daughter of Broadway legend Joel Grey, stepped into the spotlight as Frances “Baby” Houseman, the idealistic young woman who learns about life and love one summer at Kellerman’s. Before Dirty Dancing, Grey had roles in Red Dawn and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Her portrayal of Baby earned her a Golden Globe nomination and cemented her place in pop culture history, particularly for the famous “watermelon scene” and line, which she believes resonated with audiences due to its portrayal of universal feelings of shame and vulnerability.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Grey faced challenges in maintaining her Hollywood momentum, partly due to a rhinoplasty that altered her appearance. She made appearances on Friends and starred in her own sitcom, It’s Like, You Know…, alongside various supporting roles. In 2010, she returned to her dancing roots and won Dancing With the Stars. Excitingly for fans of the original movie, Grey is set to reprise her iconic role as Baby in a Dirty Dancing sequel, which she insists will honor the memory of Patrick Swayze. In her 2022 memoir, Out of the Corner, Grey reflected on her career, plastic surgery, and the enduring impact of Dirty Dancing. She was previously married to actor Clark Gregg, and they have a daughter.
Patrick Swayze (Johnny Castle)
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Johnny Castle; Patrick Swayze. Artisan Entertainment/ Courtesy: Everett; Barry Brecheisen/WireImage
Patrick Swayze, son of choreographer Patsy Swayze, became synonymous with Johnny Castle, the charismatic dance instructor who sweeps Baby off her feet. Swayze’s background included Broadway (Grease) and film (The Outsiders). His dance skills, combined with his acting talent and even singing – he sang “She’s Like the Wind” for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, a Billboard hit – made Johnny Castle unforgettable. Swayze believed the song’s success lay in its portrayal of a man feeling unworthy of love, mirroring Johnny’s feelings for Baby.
Dirty Dancing propelled Swayze to A-list stardom. He starred in a string of successful films, including Road House, Point Break, and Ghost, earning two more Golden Globe nominations. He showed his versatility with a nomination for To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. Even as his box office draw waned in later years, he remained active in films like Donnie Darko and a cameo in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Tragically, Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007 and passed away in 2009. He left behind a legacy as a talented dancer and actor, remembered by his wife Lisa Niemi, with whom he co-authored a memoir, The Time of My Life. A documentary, I Am Patrick Swayze, chronicled his life and career in 2019.
Jerry Orbach (Jake Houseman)
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Jake Houseman; Jerry Orbach. Vestron Pictures; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Jerry Orbach brought gravitas to the role of Dr. Jake Houseman, Baby’s father. Already a Broadway star, known for originating Billy Flynn in Chicago, Orbach was also recognized for his TV work on Murder, She Wrote. His role in Dirty Dancing was not only creatively fulfilling but also financially rewarding due to a profit-sharing deal.
After Dirty Dancing, Orbach became even more famous for his iconic role as Det. Lennie Briscoe on Law & Order for many years, and as the voice of Lumière in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He played both roles across numerous spinoffs and sequels. Jerry Orbach passed away in 2004 after battling prostate cancer. His final role was posthumously aired in Law & Order: Trial by Jury in 2005, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned stage, screen, and voice acting.
Kelly Bishop (Marjorie Houseman)
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Marjorie Houseman; Kelly Bishop. Vestron Pictures; JUSTINE YEUNG/Freeform via Getty
Kelly Bishop portrayed Marjorie Houseman, Baby’s mother. Interestingly, Bishop was initially cast as Vivian Pressman but was recast on location as Marjorie. Despite winning a Tony Award for dance in A Chorus Line, she didn’t showcase her dance skills in Dirty Dancing, except for a brief moment with Neil Kellerman. She humorously noted that playing the “nice mom” was less fun than the “bad girl” role she was initially considered for.
Bishop achieved widespread fame as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, a role she reprised in the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Netflix series. She has frequently collaborated with Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino on Bunheads and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Her career also includes films like Wonder Boys and Friends With Kids. Bishop was married to Lee Leonard for nearly 40 years until his death in 2018.
Cynthia Rhodes (Penny Johnson)
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Penny Johnson; Cynthia Rhodes. Vestron Pictures; Vince Bucci/Getty
Cynthia Rhodes played Penny Johnson, Johnny’s original dance partner whose pregnancy and subsequent abortion drive a significant part of the plot. A professional dancer and singer, Rhodes had appeared in Xanadu, Staying Alive, Flashdance, and music videos before Dirty Dancing. She had previously worked with choreographer Kenny Ortega, making her a natural fit for the dance-heavy role of Penny. Rhodes described the intense rehearsals for Dirty Dancing, emphasizing the hard work required to make the dancing look effortless.
After Dirty Dancing, Rhodes briefly became the lead singer for Animotion, but soon after, she retired from show business to focus on raising her family. Her last film role was in 1991. She was married to singer Richard Marx for 25 years and has three sons.
Jane Brucker (Lisa Houseman)
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Jane Brucker as Lisa Houseman. Vestron Pictures
Jane Brucker played Lisa Houseman, Baby’s somewhat ditzy sister. Dirty Dancing was Brucker’s film debut, following TV roles in Miami Vice and One Life to Live. She is famously remembered for her off-key “Hula Hana” performance in the movie’s talent show, a song she co-wrote on set with Kenny Ortega. Initially hesitant about the song’s lyrics, she embraced the playful spirit of Dirty Dancing.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Brucker reunited with Jennifer Grey in Bloodhounds of Broadway and worked occasionally in television and film. She later pursued and received songwriting credit and publishing rights for “Hula Hana.” In 2022, she made a cameo in the Dirty Dancing world as a guest judge on The Real Dirty Dancing reality series. Brucker has been married twice and has two daughters.
Jack Weston (Max Kellerman)
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Max Kellerman; Jack Weston. Vestron Pictures; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Jack Weston played Max Kellerman, the owner of Kellerman’s resort. A seasoned actor with over 100 credits, Weston’s career spanned decades before Dirty Dancing. He was known for films like Wait Until Dark, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Cactus Flower. He received a Golden Globe nomination for The Ritz and a Tony nomination for a Woody Allen play.
Dirty Dancing was among Weston’s final film roles. He appeared in one more film, Short Circuit 2, and a stage production before retiring. Jack Weston passed away in 1996 from lymphoma. He was married twice and had one child.
Wayne Knight (Stan)
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Stan; Wayne Knight. Vestron Pictures; Monica Schipper/Getty
Wayne Knight played Stan, the aspiring comedian and resort announcer at Kellerman’s. Dirty Dancing was an early film role for Knight, who had a theater background. This role served as a stepping stone for a very successful career.
Following Dirty Dancing, Wayne Knight became a household name thanks to roles like Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park and Newman in Seinfeld. He also starred in 3rd Rock From the Sun and has accumulated over 120 acting credits, including Space Jam, Rat Race, and extensive voice work in animation. Knight remains active in acting. He has been married twice and has a son.
Lonny Price (Neil Kellerman)
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Neil Kellerman; Lonny Price. Artisan Entertainment/courtesy Everett; Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Lonny Price played Neil Kellerman, Baby’s initially intended, somewhat clueless summer suitor. Price had a theater background, including a role in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, and was known for The Muppets Take Manhattan before Dirty Dancing.
After Dirty Dancing, Price transitioned into directing. He has directed for television shows like Desperate Housewives and Great Performances, winning Emmys for his direction of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sondheim! The Birthday Concert. He has also directed Broadway revivals, including Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, and touring productions like Peter Pan, establishing himself as a successful director in both stage and television.
Max Cantor (Robbie Gould)
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Max Cantor as Robbie Gould. Vestron Pictures /Courtesy Everett
Max Cantor played Robbie Gould, the waiter who callously gets Penny pregnant and refuses to help. Dirty Dancing was the most prominent role in Cantor’s short acting career. He also appeared in a Diner TV pilot and the film Fear, Anxiety & Depression. Beyond acting, Cantor was a journalist for The Village Voice.
Tragically, Max Cantor passed away in 1991 at the young age of 32 due to a heroin overdose. Despite his brief career, his role in Dirty Dancing remains memorable as the film endures.
Neal Jones (Billy Kostecki)
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Neal Jones as Billy Kostecki. Vestron Pictures
Neal Jones made his film debut as Billy Kostecki, Johnny’s cousin who famously hands Baby the watermelon. Before Dirty Dancing, Jones honed his acting skills in New York theater productions. He described the transition from theater to film as a significant adjustment.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Jones worked with Jerry Orbach again in Chinese Coffee and Law & Order. He also appeared in The Devil’s Advocate, Glengarry Glen Ross, In America, and the HBO miniseries Generation Kill. His last credited role was in 2011, and he appears to have retired from acting.
Miranda Garrison (Vivian Pressman)
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Miranda Garrison as Vivian Pressman. Vestron Pictures
Miranda Garrison played Vivian Pressman, the older woman seeking dance lessons of a different kind from Johnny. Already a dancer and choreographer, Garrison had worked with Kenny Ortega prior to Dirty Dancing. In addition to acting in the film, she was the assistant choreographer and played a key role in creating the iconic lift.
After Dirty Dancing, Garrison continued to work as a choreographer in Hollywood, including films like Evita, Selena, The Rocketeer, and The Skeleton Key. She also appeared in dance-themed movies like Salsa, The Forbidden Dance, and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Garrison served as a judge on the reality show Dirty Dancing: The Time of Your Life in the UK, further cementing her association with the Dirty Dancing legacy.
The cast of Dirty Dancing created a movie that continues to resonate with audiences. While the actors have moved on to diverse paths since 1987, their performances in Dirty Dancing remain iconic, ensuring the film’s place in cinematic history and keeping the memories of Kellerman’s alive for generations.
