'Did I hurt them?' The road trip with Matthew Broderick that haunted Jennifer Grey's rise to fame.

In 1987, Jennifer Grey had it all.

She was the star of one of the most iconic movies of all time, Dirty Dancing. Playing Baby, she had the moves, and on-screen, she had the man with the moves, Patrick Swayze.

Grey had already starred in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, another '80s smash hit.

At 27, her future was promising; but life was about to serve her some serious curveballs.

Now 65, and with the recent news that she will return to the role of Baby as both star and Executive Producer of a Dirty Dancing sequel in 2027, we look at the major ups and downs she's enjoyed and overcome.

But first, watch: Even celebrities need wingmen. Post continues below.

Jennifer Grey's early years.

Grey, born March 26, 1960, is the daughter of celebrated acting couple Jo Wilder and Joel Grey. Joel won an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for his performance as the Master of Ceremonies in the 1972 film of the musical Cabaret.

Joel was also a trained dancer, which is where Grey got her love of dance. She attended Dalton school for performing arts, where she met her best friend, Tracy Pollen, Michael J. Fox’s future wife.

Jennifer Grey’s acting career before Dirty Dancing.

Before playing the iconic roles of Frances 'Baby' Even Houseman in Dirty Dancing, and Jeanie in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Grey starred with Swayze in 1984’s Red Dawn.

It was reported at the time that the pair did not like each other, but their undeniable on-screen chemistry led to a lifetime friendship.

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. Image: Getty.

A car crash with Matthew Broderick and cancer.

Nine days before the premiere of Dirty Dancing, the Manhattan native was involved in a head-on collision while vacationing in Ireland with actor Matthew Broderick.

The couple had been dating in secret after appearing as siblings in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and had rented a BMW 316 to drive from Irvinestown to Maguiresbridge.

In the hours before the accident, they had stopped at a petrol station for directions. Despite an off-duty policeman warning them their route was "just stupid" and offering to lead them, Broderick declined.

After a heavy downpour of rain eased, they continued their journey. Less than a mile later, they collided head-on with a car driven by 28-year-old Anna Gallagher and her 63-year-old mother, Margaret. Both women were killed.

First responders had to cut the car to treat Broderick, who reportedly kept repeating, "Did I hurt them?"

Grey sustained significant whiplash, and several ligaments in the back of her neck were torn. Her injuries prevented her from dancing for years, and the emotional toll of being involved in the incident meant Grey did not act for some time afterwards.

"One minute we're going down the road and music is playing, and the next minute… it's all different," she later told People. "I became America's sweetheart within five days of the accident."

Jennifer Grey and Matthew Broderick. Image: Getty.

Broderick was eventually convicted of careless driving and fined $175, a result the victims' family called a "travesty of justice."

Grey suffered from survivor's guilt for years, noting, "I couldn't be fearless after that."

It wasn't until 2009, in preparation for Dancing with the Stars, that she underwent surgery to address chronic neck pain from the crash. During that examination, a small cancerous node was found on her thyroid and removed. She has since been cancer-free.

Grey went on to win the eleventh series of the dance competition, with dance partner Derek Hough.

A 'career-ending' nose job.

In the early 1990s, Grey had corrective surgery performed on the shape of her nose. It would be a decision the actor came to deeply regret.

The nose job changed her profile so much, Grey said that even close friends didn’t recognise her. It also took away her ‘uniqueness’; one of the qualities for which she was cast as Baby.

“I went in the operating room a celebrity and came out anonymous,” she’s said since, in acknowledgement of the effect on her career.

“It was like being in a witness protection program, or being invisible.”

Grey felt the impact was so great that she even considered changing her name to relaunch her career. However, she did eventually go on to work more.

From 1999 to 2000, Grey starred as herself in It’s Like, You Know…, which satirised her nose job as a running gag.

Jennifer Grey in 2000. Image: Getty.

And then from 2014 to 2017, Grey played Judy Meyers on Red Oaks. In 2018, Grey appeared in the film Untogether.

Jennifer Grey’s romantic relationships.

Grey was romantically linked with Johnny Depp (around 1989), Michael J. Fox (about 1986, before he began dating her best friend, and his future wife, Tracy Pollan), and then Matthew Broderick (about 1987).

However, because of her own acting merit and iconic roles, none of these high-profile relationships has defined Grey’s public identity.

Grey married actor Clark Gregg in July 2001, and had daughter Stella later that year.

The couple separated in early 2020 and finalised their divorce in 2021, remaining close as a family.

Ageing in Hollywood.

Grey is currently 65. When she turned 60 in March 2020, she told People that she didn't place too much importance on her age.

"I really don’t give too much weight to chronological age, even though the world wants to tell you it means something," she said.

"But to me, it’s as abstract and random as anything, because I know a million people who are very young who behave like they’re ancient. I know my grandmother, who was 93 when she died, was dancing and making art and walking and living independently. I think that it’s all about how you live, not how long you live."

Jennifer Grey in 2025. Image: Getty.

With her return to the Dirty Dancing sequel officially confirmed for 2027, Grey is ensuring she is the one to finally tell the next chapter of Baby's story on her own terms.

Feature Image: Getty.

This story was originally published in 2020 and has since been updated.