Dirty Dancing
1987 film directed by Emile Ardolino · Released August 21, 1987
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, it tells the story of Frances "Baby" Houseman (Grey), a young woman who falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze) while vacationing at a Borscht Belt resort in 1963. The film was based on screenwriter Bergstein's own childhood. She originally wrote a screenplay for the Michael Douglas 1980 film It's My Turn, but she ultimately ended up conceiving a story for a film which became Dirty Dancing.
Cast ages when filming began (September 5, 1986)
- Patrick Swayze, as Johnny Castle: 34
- Jennifer Grey, as Frances "Baby" Houseman: 26
- Jerry Orbach, as Jake Houseman: 50
- Cynthia Rhodes, as Penny Johnson: 29
- Kelly Bishop, as Marge Houseman: 42
- Jane Brucker, as Lisa Houseman: 28
- Jack Weston, as Max Kellerman: 62
- Max Cantor, as Robbie Gould: 27
- Wayne Knight, as Stan: 31
- Lonny Price, as Neil Kellerman: 27
- Neal Jones, as Billy Kostecki: 26
- Emile Ardolino: 43
- Garry Goodrow, as Moe Pressman: 52