Jennifer Grey gained immense fame because of her role in “Dirty Dancing.” Unfortunately, she got into an accident involving two deaths, changing her life forever. While trying to return to the acting scene, Grey had two nose jobs and was later diagnosed with cancer.
Born on March 26, 1960, in New York, Jennifer Grey came from a family of entertainers and joined the business in the ’80s. Her father, Joel Grey, was an Oscar Award-winning actor, dancer, and singer recognized for his performance in “Cabaret.”
Meanwhile, her mother, Jo Wilder, was an actress and singer before leaving the industry to start a family. Grey’s grandfather, Mickey Katz, was also a performer, known as a musician and comic.
Jennifer Grey as Valerie Jacobs in “The Equalizer,” October 22, 1986. | Source: Getty Images
Grey was only a teen when she engaged in alcohol, drugs, and intense relationships – a life she even called reckless. While enjoying the party scene, she pursued a career as an actress and secured roles in known productions.
In 1984, she appeared in her first three films, “Red Dawn,” “The Cotton Club,” and “Reckless.” However, she only became famous after starring in the movies “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Dirty Dancing,” in 1986 and 1987.
Between wrapping up filming for “Dirty Dancing” and the movie’s release, Grey was involved in a severe car accident.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in “Dirty Dancing,” circa 1987. | Source: Getty Images
Grey, then 27, brought to life the character Frances “Baby” Houseman in “Dirty Dancing” and was paired with the late Patrick Swayze, her on-screen love interest. When the cameras stopped rolling, Grey and Swayze did not have the perfect relationship, but they had no choice but to have chemistry for the film. She said:
“Patrick was a really good guy and really cared about me. He was always there for me, and I would’ve done anything for him, but we were also a little oil and water.”
The pair’s real-life relationship caused friction in the movie and allowed them to better portray their roles. However, it was their last movie together.
“Dirty Dancing” was considered a coming-of-age film with a storyline that won Grey’s heart. “When I read the script, there was so much that felt like it was made for me,” she
