Jennifer Grey

Jennifer Grey: biography

American actress Jennifer Grey is known for her roles in the cult films of the 1980s Ferris Bueller's Day Off(1986) and Dirty Dancing (1987). Her work on TV shows and movies has won thousands of hearts around the world. She is the winner of season eleven of Dancing with the Stars in 2010.

Jennifer Grey was born on March 26, 1960, in New York. She is the daughter of famous theater and film actor Joel Grey and former actress/singer Jo Wilder (née Brower), the granddaughter of comedian and musician Mickey Katz. She also has a brother, James Katz, who became a cook.

In her youth, Jennifer studied acting and dancing at the Dalton School, a private school in Manhattan, from which she graduated in 1978. Later, she entered the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse to study acting for two years.

Movies

Jennifer Grey began her career at the age of seventeen with a part in the advertising for the brand of soft drinks Dr. Pepper. She made her debut in a feature film in 1984, playing a minor role of Cathy Bennario in the romantic drama Reckless. In the same year, she participated in the shooting of the war film Red Dawn. In 1985, Jennifer tried on the role of Carol Durate in the television series ABC Afterschool Specials.

The first popular project of the actress was the comedy movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, released in 1986. She got the part of Jeanie Bueller, the central character's sister. The film grossed $ 70.1 million in box office across America, receiving high praise and critical acclaim. The motion picture acquired the status of a cult school comedy film of the 80s along with The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. Matthew Broderick performed the leading role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The next project was a cornerstone in the creative career of the actress and drew the attention of the public to the girl. In 1987, Jennifer Grey played the central part of Frances "Baby" Houseman in the romantic drama dance film Dirty Dancing together with the actor and dancer Patrick Swayze. They played two young people from different social classes who fell in love with each other through rehearsing for a joint sensual dance.

Initially having a strictly limited budget, this romantic drama film grossed $63.9 million across the United States and became the first motion picture to sell more than half a million VCR copies. Her role in Dirty Dancing brought her a nomination for the prestigious Golden Globe award.

Despite the resounding success of the romantic drama film, there was a downfall in the further career of the actress, from then on, Jennifer Grey got only supporting roles in various movies and TV shows. In 1988, Grey did voice-over work for the English version of the French fantasy cartoon Gandahar. The next year, Jennifer starred together with Madonna in the ensemble period comedy film Bloodhounds of Broadway, based on the stories written by Damon Runyon. The movie received a nomination for a parody booby prize award.

At this time, the girl began dating actor Johnny Depp, but eventually, the couple broke off their engagement, and the young people soon broke up. From 1990 to 1991 Grey acted in the television series Murder in Mississippi starring Tom Hulce and Blair Underwood; Criminal Justice, If the Shoe Fits, and Eyes of a Witness.

In 1995, the actress starred in the television series The West Side Waltz together with Shirley MacLaine and Liza Minnelli, and in the same year - the thriller film Portraits of a Killer and the romantic drama Lover's Knot. In 1998, Jennifer had the opportunity to take part in the shooting of the television movies Outrage and Since You've Been Gone.

Grey played the part of an airport agent in the movie Bounce in 2000. Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow played the leading roles in the film. In 2006, the actress appeared in the TV movie The Road to Christmas together with her husband, Clark Gregg. In a year, Jennifer was already working on the set of Redbelt, a film about martial arts, and a year later - in the independent drama film Keith.

In 2010, Jennifer Grey participated in season eleven of Dancing With Stars television show together with her professional partner, Derek Hough. They became the winners of that season. In the following year, the actress tried on the role of a guest judge in season 9 of the British version of the dancing project.

Grey performed a voice role of Mrs. Kurokawa in the American dubbing of the Japanese animated historical drama film The Wind Rises in 2013. The following year, she starred in the movie In Your Eyes that received positive reviews from film critics, and the comedy television series Red Oaks.

Besides, the filmography of the actress also includes participation in such famous TV shows as Friends (in 1995), Fallen Angels (in 1995), John from Cincinnati (in 2007), Phineas and Ferb (in 2009), The New Adventures of Old Christine (in 2009), and House M.D. (in 2010).

Personal life

Jennifer Grey is lucky when it comes to her personal life. On July 21, 2001, after dating Clark Gregg for a long time, the couple got married. The newly-wed had a daughter Stella on December 3, 2001. Now the family lives in Venice, a beach area in California. Jennifer Grey and Clark do not have any more children.

Her husband describes himself as "a sober drunk" and is a member of a Jewish family. He has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Grey couple took part in the Women's March, which took place in January of 2017 in Washington.

As it is known, Jennifer had a nose surgery done in the early 90s, which made her unrecognizable for fans, friends and the family.

"I went in the operating room as a celebrity - and came out anonymous. It was like being in a witness protection program or being invisible. I'll always be this once-famous actress that no-one recognizes because of a nose job. I decided to make jokes about it so that my mistake became a reality. After all, it's not cancer, so it is absurd that simple plastic surgery can do so much harm."

The star is active on social media, addressing her fans and posting photos of her life. She has thousands of fans on Twitter and Instagram. Jennifer Grey has a net worth of $10 million. Grey's height is 5 feet 25 inches, and she weighs 130 pounds.

Jennifer Grey now

In 2018, Jennifer Grey voiced the character of Edna in the adventure cartoon Duck Duck Goose and starred in the American drama film Untogether, Alice Eve, and Jamie Dornan became her colleagues on the set.

In 2019, one more drama film featuring Jennifer Grey, Bitter Sweet Symphony, is going to be released.

Filmography

• 1984 - Red Dawn
• 1984 - The Cotton Club
• 1986 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• 1987 - Dirty Dancing
• 1989 - Gandahar
• 1992 - Wind
• 1995 - Lover's Knot
• 1996 - Portraits of a Killer
• 2000 - Bounce
• 2008 - Keith
• 2014 - In Your Eyes
• 2018 - Untogether