
Though the Jewish identity of the Housemans - along with other Kellerman’s guests - is never explicitly stated, Swayze himself confirmed Baby’s Jewishness in an interview with the American Film Institute about the enduring appeal of Dirty Dancing. Jennifer Grey’s grandfather - Joel Grey’s father - was musician Mickey Katz, who founded a Yiddish variety show called the “ Borscht Capades”, where he played saxophone and clarinet.ħ. He also recently directed the National Yiddish Folksbiene’s Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof.Ħ. Grey’s father is the legendary Jewish actor, singer, and director Joel Grey, who once starred in the Broadway musical Goodtime Charley, where Swayze was an ensemble dancer! Probably best known for playing the Emcee in Cabaret, Joel Grey’s big break was learning and recording a Yiddish song, “Romania Romania” for a record label in New York. Speaking of Matthew Broderick, his wife, Jewish actress and shoe designer Sarah Jessica Parker, auditioned for the role of Baby! Reportedly it was down to Parker and Grey, but the chemistry between Grey and Patrick Swayze, who plays dance teacher Johnny Castle, was palpable.ĥ.

#groovecityĪ post shared by Jennifer Grey on at 1:57pm PSTĤ. Gregg is not Jewish but he considers himself “a member of a Jewish family.” The pair have a daughter, Stella, and by all accounts, Grey seems like a super fun and relatable mom:įri-yay!!#carpoolkaraoke i❤️my kid. In 2001, she married Clark Gregg, an actor who is best known for his role as Agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At one time, Grey was engaged to fellow Jewish actor and Ferris Bueller star, Matthew Broderick. In the decades since, Grey has made multiple jokes about the film, especially in reference to her two nose jobs which changed her look so dramatically it rendered her unrecognizable.ģ. The year before Dirty Dancing, Grey played Jeanie Bueller in an equally iconic 80s film: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Jennifer Grey, the lead actress who plays the main character, Baby, is Jewish.
#Dirty dancing location virginia movie#
The movie was actually filmed at two different lake locations in the southern states: Lake Lure in North Carolina and Mountain Lake, Virginia.Ģ. While the resort closed in 1986 and lies in ruins, there are rumors that it will reopen. The setting for Dirty Dancing, the fictional Kellerman’s, was based on a real resort: Grossinger’s Catskills Resort and Hotel in Liberty, NY.

From the 1920s through the 80s, the Catskill mountains were the hub for Jewish families looking to escape the heat and the hustle of New York City in the summer. From characters’ origins to its Catskills settings, here are our favorite 18 Jewish facts about Dirty Dancing:ġ. Indeed, from its willingness to take on taboo topics - namely abortion - to its catchy soundtrack that seemingly played continuously in minivans across the land, there are many reasons to love this film.īut we’re here to celebrate the movie’s commitment to Yiddishkeit. After all, so many of the songs, dance moves, and the iconic lines - “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” - remain permanently etched in our memories. This beloved film, which some consider “ the most Jewish film ever” is, in so many ways, JUST what the doctor ordered. The iconic 1987 movie, Dirty Dancing, now streaming on Hulu, provides a much-needed escape into a world of fun in the sun, retro lakeside activities, and steamy summer nights. While most of us are cooped up at home this summer - rather than enjoying the pleasures of, say, a seasonal resort - now, more than ever, we can appreciate how a great film can bring us to a simpler time and place.
