In the summer of 1987, Dirty Dancing became a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its coming-of-age story, iconic soundtrack, and the electric chemistry between its lead actors. Set in the fictional Kellerman’s resort in the Catskills, the film tells the story of Frances “Baby” Houseman, a young woman who falls for dance instructor Johnny Castle. Despite on-set friction between the leads, the movie grossed over $214 million globally and solidified its place in cinematic history. While attempts to recreate its success with a prequel and a remake fell short, the announcement of a sequel starring Jennifer Grey has reignited interest in the original film and its beloved cast. So, as we anticipate a return to Kellerman’s, let’s find out what the Dirty Dancing cast has been up to since they graced the big screen.
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, was already known for roles in Red Dawn and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off before landing the role of Frances “Baby” Houseman. This role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and cemented her status as a star. In a 2022 interview with EW, Grey reflected on the famous watermelon scene, explaining its resonance with audiences stemmed from the universal feeling of shame and vulnerability.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Grey faced challenges in maintaining her Hollywood momentum, partly due to a rhinoplasty that altered her appearance significantly. She made a guest appearance in Friends as Mindy, Rachel’s friend, but declined to return due to anxiety. She later starred in her own sitcom, It’s Like, You Know…, and took on supporting roles in various projects. In a triumphant return to dance, she won season 11 of Dancing With the Stars in 2010. Grey is set to reprise her iconic role as Baby in an upcoming Dirty Dancing sequel, which she insists will honor the memory of Patrick Swayze. In her 2022 memoir, Out of the Corner, she openly discussed her career, plastic surgery, and the enduring legacy of Dirty Dancing.
Grey was married to actor Clark Gregg for two decades before their divorce in 2021. They have a daughter, Stella.
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, brought his dance expertise and charisma to the role of Johnny Castle. Prior to Dirty Dancing, he had Broadway experience in Grease and appeared in The Outsiders. Swayze’s talents extended beyond dance; he was also trained in martial arts and a singer. He sang “She’s Like the Wind” for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, which became a major hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. He explained to PEOPLE that the song’s success lay in its portrayal of a man’s insecurity and love for a woman he feels is out of his league, mirroring Johnny’s feelings for Baby.
Dirty Dancing catapulted Swayze to A-list stardom. He followed up with a string of successful films like Road House, Point Break, and Ghost, earning two more Golden Globe nominations for Ghost and To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. He continued to act in films like Donnie Darko and even made a cameo in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
In 2007, Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while filming The Beast. He tragically passed away in 2009, leaving behind his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi. Together, they wrote a memoir, The Time of My Life, published posthumously in 2010. In 2019, Niemi participated in I Am Patrick Swayze, a documentary celebrating his life and career.
Jerry Orbach (Jake Houseman)
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Jake Houseman; Jerry Orbach. Vestron Pictures; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Before portraying Baby’s stern but ultimately loving father, Dr. Jake Houseman, Jerry Orbach was a celebrated Broadway actor, known for originating the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. He was also recognized for his TV roles as private investigator Harry McGraw in Murder, She Wrote and in crime thrillers like Prince of the City and F/X.
Dirty Dancing proved to be a significant financial success for Orbach, as his profit participation deal yielded unexpected returns. He famously quipped to EW in 1991 about the film’s unforeseen popularity.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Orbach became even more widely known for his iconic role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in Law & Order and for voicing Lumière in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He played these roles across numerous spinoffs and sequels and continued his appearances on Murder, She Wrote.
Orbach was married twice, first to Marta Curro, with whom he had two sons, and later to actress Elaine Cancilla. After a decade-long battle with prostate cancer, he passed away in 2004 at the age of 69. His final on-screen appearance was posthumously in Law & Order: Trial by Jury in 2005.
Kelly Bishop (Marjorie Houseman)
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Marjorie Houseman; Kelly Bishop. Vestron Pictures; JUSTINE YEUNG/Freeform via Getty
Kelly Bishop, a Broadway veteran, played Baby’s mother, Marjorie Houseman. Interestingly, she was initially cast as Vivian Pressman but was recast on location. Bishop, a Tony Award winner for A Chorus Line, ironically didn’t get to showcase her dance skills in Dirty Dancing, although she did share a brief dance scene with Neil Kellerman, hinting at where Baby’s dance talent originated.
After Dirty Dancing, Bishop achieved even greater fame as Emily Gilmore in the popular series Gilmore Girls, a role she reprised in the Netflix revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. While she hasn’t reunited with her Dirty Dancing co-stars, she did work with Joel Grey in a 2011 Broadway production of Anything Goes. She has frequently collaborated with Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino on Bunheads and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also appeared in films like Wonder Boys and Friends With Kids.
Bishop was married to TV personality Lee Leonard for almost 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, a professional singer and dancer, was well-versed in dance films before Dirty Dancing, having appeared in Xanadu, Staying Alive, Flashdance, and Runaway. She also featured in music videos for Toto, the Bee Gees, and Richard Marx, whom she later married. Before Dirty Dancing, she collaborated with choreographer Kenny Ortega in Xanadu and a Tubes video. She played Penny Johnson, Johnny’s original dance partner, whose character’s predicament drives a significant part of the plot.
Rhodes described the rigorous rehearsals for Dirty Dancing on Camp Midnite, emphasizing the intense training required to portray a lifelong dance partnership with Swayze convincingly.
Following Dirty Dancing, Rhodes briefly became the lead singer for Animotion but soon left the band after their third album. She starred in one more film, Curse of the Crystal Eye, in 1991 before retiring from acting to focus on family.
Rhodes was married to singer Richard Marx for 25 years and they have three sons before divorcing in 2014.
Jane Brucker (Lisa Houseman)
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Jane Brucker as Lisa Houseman. Vestron Pictures
Jane Brucker played Lisa Houseman, Baby’s somewhat superficial sister known for her off-key “Hula Hana” performance. With previous roles in Miami Vice and One Life to Live, Dirty Dancing was Brucker’s film debut. She not only performed “Hula Hana” but also co-wrote the song on set with Kenny Ortega. She recounted to EW how the song’s humorous and slightly suggestive lyrics came about during breaks in filming.
After Dirty Dancing, Brucker reunited with Jennifer Grey in Bloodhounds of Broadway and worked sporadically in television and film, including Stealing Home and Dishdogz. Initially hesitant to pursue songwriting credit for “Hula Hana,” she later successfully claimed publishing rights when a stage musical adaptation featured the song. In 2022, she made a cameo return to the Dirty Dancing world as a guest judge on The Real Dirty Dancing reality show.
Brucker has been married twice and has a daughter from each marriage.
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 since the 1950s, Weston 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 Woody Allen’s The Floating Light Bulb.
Following Dirty Dancing, Weston made only one more on-screen appearance in Short Circuit 2 before returning to the stage for a production of The Odd Couple in 1991.
Weston was married to Marge Redmond and later to Laurie Gilkes, with whom he had a child. He passed away from lymphoma in 1996.
Wayne Knight (Stan)
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Stan; Wayne Knight. Vestron Pictures; Monica Schipper/Getty
Wayne Knight played Stan, Kellerman’s aspiring comedian and announcer. With limited prior screen experience, Dirty Dancing was only his third film role.
After Dirty Dancing, Knight enjoyed a highly successful career. He is best known for his roles as Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park and Newman in Seinfeld. He also starred in 3rd Rock From the Sun and boasts over 120 credits, including Space Jam, Rat Race, and extensive voice work in animation.
Knight has been married twice and has a son with his current wife, Clare de Chenu.
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 somewhat pompous suitor. He had a theater background, including in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, and was known for The Muppets Take Manhattan.
Following Dirty Dancing, Price made occasional TV appearances, including Law & Order with Jerry Orbach. He transitioned to directing in the mid-90s, working on Desperate Housewives and Great Performances. He won two Emmys for directing PBS Great Performances: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sondheim! The Birthday Concert. He directed Glenn Close in the Sunset Boulevard revival and the touring production of Peter Pan.
Max Cantor (Robbie Gould)
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Max Cantor as Robbie Gould. Vestron Pictures /Courtesy Everett
Max Cantor played Robbie Gould, the waiter with questionable morals. Dirty Dancing was his most prominent role in a brief acting career of only five roles. He also appeared in the Diner TV pilot and Fear, Anxiety & Depression. In addition to acting, Cantor was a journalist for The Village Voice.
Tragically, Cantor passed away from a heroin overdose in 1991 at the young age of 32.
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. Before Dirty Dancing, he worked in New York theater productions. He described the transition from theater to film as a significant adjustment.
Post-Dirty Dancing, Jones reunited with Jerry Orbach in Chinese Coffee and Law & Order. He also appeared in The Devil’s Advocate, Glengarry Glen Ross, and In America, and received acclaim for his role in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill. His last credited role was in 2011, and he seems 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, Johnny’s older, seductive partner. Garrison, who had worked with Kenny Ortega on Xanadu, stepped into the role after Kelly Bishop’s recasting. Beyond acting, Garrison was the assistant choreographer for Dirty Dancing and played a key role in creating the iconic lift, collaborating with Ortega and Swayze to develop a move that symbolized Baby and Johnny’s triumph.
After Dirty Dancing, Garrison continued to act in dance-related films like Salsa, The Forbidden Dance, and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Her primary focus shifted to choreography, becoming the lead choreographer for major films such as Evita and Selena. She also worked on The Rocketeer, The Skeleton Key, and Poseidon. Garrison served as a judge on the UK reality show Dirty Dancing: The Time of Your Life.
As fans eagerly await the Dirty Dancing sequel, revisiting the original cast and their journeys reminds us of the lasting impact of this beloved film. The Dirty Dancing cast members have continued on diverse paths, leaving their indelible marks on entertainment, and ensuring that “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” remains a timeless cinematic quote.
