Jennifer Grey, known for her role as “Baby” in the hit movie Dirty Dancing, was expected to have a booming career.
However, a devastating accident altered her life permanently, leading her to leave the film industry.
After many years, the sixty-two-year-old actress opened up about this challenging time that deeply affected her.
Despite its modest budget and lack of famous directors or stars, Dirty Dancing made a significant impact when it premiered in August 1987.
Patrick Swayze, the lead actor, quickly became a famous sex symbol and teen idol, starring in major films like Donnie Darko and Ghost.
However, Jennifer Grey, his co-star, was unwell around the movie’s release and vanished from the public eye just as fast as she had emerged.
She also stayed out of the limelight for a long time.
In a recent People Magazine interview, she shared details about the life-altering accident.
Looking back at Jennifer Grey’s early life, she started dance classes young, likely influenced by her father, Joel Grey, a multi-talented entertainer. Born in New York in 1960, she attended the Dalton School for dance and acting. After graduating in 1978, she pursued further acting studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater. Despite the challenges, including working as a waitress, she landed TV commercials and her first movie role in “Reckless” in 1984. Her breakthrough came with “Dirty Dancing” as Frances “Baby” Houseman.
The beloved film’s story was inspired by scriptwriter Eleanor Bergstein’s life. Jennifer became instantly famous and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Tragically, she couldn’t enjoy her rapid rise to fame.
Just before the August 1987 premiere of the movie, Grey and then-boyfriend Matthew Broderick were in Ireland.
While driving, Broderick collided with another car because he was on the wrong side of the road, killing a woman and her daughter instantly.
Broderick’s charges of careless driving were later dropped. Although Jennifer only sustained minor physical injuries, she was left with deep psychological wounds.
Despite the premiere of Dirty Dancing, she couldn’t celebrate due to intense grief and survivor’s guilt.
She felt wrong being celebrated during such a painful time, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
The accident left a permanent mark on her psyche.
“My mindset and ambition were never the same again,” she shared with People.
She struggled with the psychological impact, disappearing in the early 1990s but resurfaced briefly in a Friends episode in 1995.
She underwent plastic surgery that drastically changed her appearance.
“I went into surgery famous and came out unrecognizable,” she commented in 2012.
It felt like she was in witness protection due to the drastic change from the surgery.
Jennifer’s career in Hollywood became inconsistent afterwards.
By 2010, she reentered the spotlight and gained public favor again by winning “Dancing with the Stars,” which she described to People as a satisfying moment after years of self-doubt.
In 2018, Grey stepped back into more prominent roles in the upcoming film Untogether and the comedy Red Oaks.
It’s heartening to see Jennifer finding joy and passion again.
Who else feels a pull to revisit 1987 to see that iconic Dirty Dancing scene? What wonderful memories!
Consider sharing this story with your friends on Facebook who might recall watching Dirty Dancing and wonder about Jennifer Grey’s journey!
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