---
name: "Jennifer Grey"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jennifer-grey"
fi1m_id: "jennifer-grey"
imdb_id: "nm0000426"
tmdb_id: 722
wikidata_id: "Q232927"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 March 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-07T04:37:59.458035+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jennifer Grey

## Identity

Jennifer Grey

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jennifer-grey
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jennifer-grey
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000426
- **TMDB ID:** 722
- **Wikidata ID:** Q232927
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Grey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232927, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/722

Actor. Born 26 March 1960 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 March 1960, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1986–present
- **Also known as:** Jennifer Elise Grey
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (2), 1990s 70 (3), 2020s 76 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 71 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 3, Action 1, Crime 1, Music 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $315m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Grey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232927, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/722

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*Ferris Bueller's Day Off*](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md) (81)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Dirty Dancing*](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md) (79)
- **Disney+:** [*A Real Pain*](https://film.one/film/a-real-pain.md) (76)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Wind*](https://film.one/film/wind.md) (60)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jennifer Grey

> Jennifer Grey is good at playing awkward people who do not feel obliged to be charming. We like her sharpness and her ease on screen; the small parts she is often given leave us frustrated.

In *A Real Pain* (2024), Jennifer Grey's Marcia gets a speech and a reaction shot, with little room to become more than a fellow traveller. We like Jesse Eisenberg's film, but the attention paid to its two cousins leaves the supporting actors short of material. Marcia's limited part frustrated us because there is so little chance to get to know her. Grey is worth watching for an ease that can make both awkwardness and sarcasm seem like ordinary behaviour.

*Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986) gave that sarcasm a more useful home under John Hughes. Jeanie Bueller was Grey's breakthrough, and her prickliness fits a comedy whose hero is sometimes hard to take. We still find the film's strongest feeling in Alan Ruck's performance, but Grey's comic sharpness has a useful place beside it. Hughes lets her be funny without having to be agreeable.

*Dirty Dancing* (1987) supplied the leading part, Baby Houseman, and a different demand on that natural presence. Her dancing and her on-screen chemistry with Patrick Swayze are central to its appeal. It became the performance that defined her public image, though the subsequent career continued across supporting film parts and television, including *Friends*, *It's Like... You Know...* and *Red Oaks*. The prominence of one film can make that continued work too easy to overlook.

In *A Real Pain*, cinematographer Michał Dymek stays close to faces in trains, coaches and hotel corridors. Editor Robert Nassau cuts between scenes to still shots of the places around them, giving the tour's surroundings patient attention. The faces are worth that attention too, but Grey and several of the other travellers have too little to say. This is a limit of the writing, not a reason to dismiss the actors. Start with the Hughes comedy, then try *Dirty Dancing* for Grey with more room.

## Biography

Jennifer Grey is an American actress. She made her film debut in *Reckless* (1984) and had breakthrough roles in *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986) and *Dirty Dancing* (1987), the latter as Frances "Baby" Houseman, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

Grey is the daughter of actor Joel Grey. Her other film credits include *Red Dawn* (1984), *The Cotton Club* (1984) and *A Real Pain* (2024), in which she plays Marcia. On television she has appeared in series including *Friends*, *Grey's Anatomy* and *House*, and won season eleven of *Dancing with the Stars* (2010). Her voice work includes *Phineas and Ferb*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *A Real Pain* (2024), Fi1m 76, as Marcia — [page](https://film.one/film/a-real-pain.md)
- *Friends* (1994), Fi1m 78, as Mindy — [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), Fi1m 72, as Ginger Allen — [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Wind* (1992), Fi1m 60, as Kate Bass — [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md)
- *Dirty Dancing* (1987), Fi1m 79, as Baby Houseman — [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md)
- *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), Fi1m 81, as Jeanie Bueller — [page](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md)

## Complete filmography (54)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Wish You Were Here* (2025), as Mom
- *A Real Pain* (2024), as Marcia — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/a-real-pain.md)
- *Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match* (2023), as Jennifer Grey (voice)
- *Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation* (2023), as Gwen Shamblin · Executive Producer
- *Dollface* (2019), series, as Sharon
- *Bittersweet Symphony* (2019), as Eleanor Roberts
- *Untogether* (2019), as Josie
- *The Conners* (2018), series, as Janelle
- *Duck Duck Goose* (2018), as Edna (voice)
- *Red Oaks* (2014), series, as Judy
- *In Your Eyes* (2014), as Diane
- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *The Bling Ring* (2011), as Iris Garvey
- *Keith* (2008), as Caroline
- *Redbelt* (2008), as Lucy Weiss
- *Phineas and Ferb* (2007), series, as Additional Voices (voice), Mrs. Pierpoint (voice), Dr. Gevaarlijk (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/phineas-and-ferb.md)
- *John from Cincinnati* (2007), series, as Daphne, Meyer's Fiancée
- *The Road to Christmas* (2006), as Claire Jameson
- *The New Adventures of Old Christine* (2006), series, as Tracey
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Carol Dickinson — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Baby Houseman (voice), Diane (voice)
- *House* (2004), series, as Abbey — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Ritual* (2002), as Dr. Alice Dodgson
- *Bounce* (2000), as Janice Guerrero
- *It's Like, You Know...* (1999), series, as Jennifer Grey
- *Since You've Been Gone* (1998), as Patty Reed
- *Outrage* (1998), as Sally Casey
- *Red Meat* (1997), as Candice
- *Lover's Knot* (1996), as Megan Forrester
- *Portraits of a Killer* (1996), as Elaine Taylor
- *The West Side Waltz* (1995), as Robin Ouiseau
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Mindy — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Ginger Allen — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *A Case for Murder* (1993), as Kate Weldon
- *Wind* (1992), as Kate Bass — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md)
- *Eyes of a Witness* (1991), as Christine Baxter
- *If the Shoe Fits* (1990), as Kelly Carter / Prudence
- *Criminal Justice* (1990), as Liz Carter
- *Murder in Mississippi* (1990), as Rita Schwerner
- *Bloodhounds of Broadway* (1989), as Lovey Lou
- *Dirty Dancing* (1987), as Baby Houseman — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md)
- *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), as Jeanie Bueller — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md)
- *Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale* (1985), as Laura Eller
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Valerie Jacobs
- *American Flyers* (1985), as Leslie
- *The Cotton Club* (1984), as Patsy Dwyer
- *Red Dawn* (1984), as Toni
- *Reckless* (1984), as Cathy Bennario
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Louise / 'Lovey Lou'
- *Fashion* (1979), series, Actor
- *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Carol Schwartz, Laura Eller
- *Soapbox*, Actor
- *Untitled Dirty Dancing Sequel*, as Baby Houseman · Executive Producer
- *Grief Night Club*, as Dr. J (voice)

## Gallery

- ![Jennifer Grey](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-bb9c41f896d9.jpg) Jennifer Grey — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Jennifer_Grey_at_the_2024_New_York_Film_Festival_2_%28cropped2%29.jpg/1280px-Jennifer_Grey_at_the_2024_New_York_Film_Festival_2_%28cropped2%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor Clark Gregg (left) and his wife, Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey (right), at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-b458f8642020.jpg) Actor Clark Gregg (left) and his wife, Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey (right), at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/11.30.10ClarkGreggJenniferGreyByLuigiNovi.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010, launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Dis](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-5cdcbf36e9ae.jpg) Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010, launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Dis — Luigi Novi, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi1.jpg/1280px-11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Disn](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-4be05d2424d8.jpg) Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Disn — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi2.jpg/1280px-11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jennifer Grey](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-4bb7c1583ea7.jpg) Jennifer Grey — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Grey](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-e48997f9c089.jpg) Jennifer Grey — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Grey](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-38680a8045c5.jpg) Jennifer Grey — Image via TMDB
- ![Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Disn](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-7482be29b0ca.jpg) Actor and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mickey at the Times Square Disn — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi3.jpg/1280px-11.30.10JenniferGreyByLuigiNovi3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Video game designer Warren Spector and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mi](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-e165272b1107.jpg) Video game designer Warren Spector and Dancing with the Stars personality Jennifer Grey, at the November 30, 2010 launch party for the Disney video game Epic Mi — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/11.30.10WarrenSpectorJenniferGreyByLuigiNovi1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jennifer Grey](https://film.one/media/person/10128/gallery-a7d661fcd512.jpg) Jennifer Grey — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jennifer-grey