Jennifer Grey, known for her iconic role in "Dirty Dancing," has shared the news of her mother Jo Wilder's death at the age of 94. Wilder passed away on July 4, one week after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Grey, 66, announced her mother's passing on Instagram, stating that Wilder "died on her own terms." In a tribute, Grey described her mother as "gorgeous, talented and brave." She shared that Wilder had once dreamed of an acting career but ultimately focused on raising her children, Grey and her brother. "If she'd chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had," Grey wrote.
Wilder's passions extended beyond her family; she was described as a "lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong." Many also knew her for her "extraordinary eye" through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose Avenue. Grey reflected on her mother's ability to handle life's challenges with grace, particularly her final days. "True to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy," Grey wrote.
Fellow actors, including Josh Gad and Maggie Wheeler, offered their condolences on social media. Wheeler recalled Wilder as "fierce and kind and curious." Jennifer Grey's father was the Oscar-winning actor Joel Grey.
Grey, who is set to reprise her role as Frances 'Baby' Houseman in a forthcoming sequel to "Dirty Dancing," has previously spoken about personal experiences, including a sexual assault she endured as a teenager and her family's reaction to it. The original "Dirty Dancing," released in 1987, starred Grey alongside Patrick Swayze, who died in 2009.