Jennifer Grey is an American actress born on March 26, 1960. She started her acting career in the movie “Reckless” in 1984 but hit the big time with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in 1986. You might know her best from “Dirty Dancing” in 1987, where she played Frances Baby Houseman, a role that got her nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
She’s been in a bunch of other movies too, like “Red Dawn,” “The Cotton Club,” “Bloodhounds of Broadway,” “Bounce,” “Redbelt,” “The Wind Rises,” “In Your Eyes,” “Duck Duck Goose,” and “Bittersweet Symphony.”
Jennifer Grey has also appeared on TV. She was in TV movies like “Murder in Mississippi” and “Criminal Justice” in 1990 and played Kelly Carter / Prudence in “If the Shoe Fits” in the same year. She had her show called “It’s Like, You Know…” from 1999 to 2001. In 2010, she won season eleven of “Dancing with the Stars” and from 2014 to 2017, she starred in the Amazon Prime Video comedy “Red Oaks” as Judy Meyers.
Besides acting on screen, Grey has also lent her voice to projects like the movie “Duck Duck Goose” in 2018 and the animated TV series “Phineas and Ferb” from 2008 to 2014.
| Full Name | Jennifer Grey |
| Date of Birth | March 26, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, Dancer, Author |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Clark Gregg (m. 2001) |
| Children | Stella Gregg |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
Jennifer Grey’s Early Life and Education
Jennifer Grey was born in New York City on March 26, 1960. Her dad Joel Grey was a famous actor and her mom Jo Wilder was an actor and singer too. Jennifer’s grandpa Mickey Katz was also a Musician and comedian. Both of Jennifer’s parents were Jewish.
She went to a fancy school in Manhattan called the Dalton School. There, she learned how to dance and act. She even met her best friend, Tracy Pollan, at school. After finishing in 1978, she went to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in Manhattan to get better at acting. While she waited for acting gigs, she worked as a waitress.
Career
Jennifer Grey began her career at 19 with a Dr. Pepper ad followed by her film debut in “Reckless”. She then had small roles in “The Cotton Club” and “Red Dawn” in the same year. In 1985, she appeared in “American Flyers.” Her big break came in 1986 when she played Jeannie Bueller in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” alongside Matthew Broderick. The movie was a hit both commercially and critically.
The next year she starred as Frances “Baby” Houseman in “Dirty Dancing” where her character falls for a dance instructor. The film despite being low-budget became a massive success and a classic selling a million copies on video. Grey’s role in this film defined her career earning her a Golden Globe nomination.
Apart from her film work Grey appeared briefly on Broadway in 1993. Concerned about her appearance limiting her roles after “Dirty Dancing” she underwent two nose jobs in the early 1990s. The procedures significantly changed her look and affected her career making her less recognizable.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Grey appeared in various TV shows and films including a self-parodying role in “It’s Like You Know…”. She also had roles in “Friends” and “Bounce”. Later she won season eleven of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010 despite facing challenges due to injuries and exhaustion during the competition.
Grey continued acting in films and TV appearing in projects like “Red Oaks” and “Untogether”. She also voiced a character in the English version of Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Wind Rises.” In addition to her acting career Grey released her memoir “Out of the Corner” in 2022.
Personal life
On August 5, 1987, Jennifer Grey got badly hurt in a car crash in Northern Ireland while on vacation with Matthew Broderick, whom Jennifer Grey was dating secretly during the filming of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Broderick was driving and accidentally hit another car killing two people. He got fined for driving carelessly. Around that time “Dirty Dancing” made her famous but she couldn’t enjoy it because of the crash.
Grey dated several actors like Michael J. Fox, Johnny Depp, William Baldwin, and then-aide to President Clinton, George Stephanopoulos before marrying Clark Gregg in 2001. They have a daughter but separated in 2020 and finalized their divorce in 2021.
She became more connected to her Jewish roots after her daughter’s bat mitzvah. Before appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010, she had to check if her body was strong enough due to a neck injury from the crash. She had surgery to fix it and also had thyroid cancer, which was removed in 2009.
In 2017, she took part in the Women’s March in Los Angeles.
Net Worth
Jennifer Grey has an estimated net worth of $10 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Jennifer Grey’s net worth comes from her acting career, particularly her iconic role as Frances “Baby” Houseman in the hit 1987 film “Dirty Dancing.” This role not only brought her significant fame but also led to various acting opportunities in movies, TV shows, and stage performances.
Additionally, Grey won the 11th season of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010, which boosted her popularity and income. Her work in the entertainment industry, along with occasional guest appearances and endorsements, has substantially contributed to her wealth.
Awards
Back in 1988, Jennifer Grey got a nomination for a Golden Globe because of her awesome performance in “Dirty Dancing.” She also got nominated for four Best Actress Bravo Otto awards, and she won one in 1988. Plus, in 1995, she got a nomination for a CableACE Award for her role in “Fallen Angels.”
Then, in 2015, Jennifer and her buddies from “Kaze Tachinu” got a nomination for a Behind the Voice Actors Award for being the best vocal team in an anime movie
