Kelly Bishop
Actress
82 years (Feb 28, 1944)Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Kelly Bishop began as a Broadway dancer and won a Tony Award in the original cast of 'A Chorus Line', creating the role of Sheila. On screen she played Marjorie Houseman, the mother in 'Dirty Dancing', and later Emily Gilmore across seven seasons of 'Gilmore Girls' — a performance built on precise diction and social control, and the source of much of the series' friction. She returned to the role for the 2016 revival.
Kelly Bishop
Actress
Kelly Bishop began as a Broadway dancer and won a Tony Award in the original cast of 'A Chorus Line', creating the role of Sheila. On screen she played Marjorie Houseman, the mother in 'Dirty Dancing', and later Emily Gilmore across seven seasons of 'Gilmore Girls' — a performance built on precise diction and social control, and the source of much of the series' friction. She returned to the role for the 2016 revival.
17 Movies
Plays Marjorie Houseman
Dirty Dancing
1987
Plays Ray Stern
Private Parts
1997
Plays Marcy Fryman
Friends with Kids
2012
Plays Elaine Liebowitz
An Unmarried Woman
1978
Plays Amanda Leer
Wonder Boys
2000
Plays Adele
Six Degrees of Separation
1993
Plays Beth Douglas
O'Hara's Wife
1982
Plays Tutore Nover
Solarbabies
1986
Plays Zelda
Miami Rhapsody
1995
Plays Mrs. Aramis
Me and Him
1988
Plays Maria
Queens Logic
1991
Plays Mrs. Jelke
Cafe Society
1997
Plays Lily Sparks
A Novel Romance
2011
Plays Sylvia Weinstein
My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception
1999
13 TV Shows
Plays Emily Gilmore
Gilmore Girls
2000
Plays Fanny Flowers
Bunheads
2012
Plays Mrs. Ivey
The Watchful Eye
2023
Plays Emily Gilmore
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
2016
Plays Julia Zimmer
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Plays Bea Wilson
The Good Wife
2009
Plays Eleanor Lambert
Halston
2021
Plays Charity Morningstar
The New Odd Couple
1982
Plays Marian Borland
Law & Order
1990
Plays Char
Hawaii Five-O
1969
Plays Jean Calhoun
Army Wives
2007
Plays Benedetta
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
2017
Plays Susan
Shrinking
2023
Plays Irene French
Cassie & Co.
1982
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Art of Falling in Love
Full Filmography
Standby
Glenna
2025
The Watchful Eye
Mrs. Ivey · 10 episodes
2023–
Shrinking
Susan · 1 episode
2023–
Halston
Eleanor Lambert
2021Season 1
Saint Janet
Janet
2017
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Benedetta · 1 episode
2017–
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Emily Gilmore · 4 episodes
2016–
The Good Wife
Bea Wilson
2015Season 7
Bunheads
Fanny Flowers · 18 episodes
2012–
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kelly Bishop and where are they from?
Kelly Bishop is 82 years old, born on February 28, 1944 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Kelly Bishop?
Kelly Bishop is best known for roles in Dirty Dancing, Wonder Boys, Friends with Kids.
How many movies has Kelly Bishop been in?
Over a 48-year career (since 1978), Kelly Bishop has appeared in 17 movies and 13 TV shows.
What was Kelly Bishop's first movie?
The career of Kelly Bishop began with An Unmarried Woman (1978).
What is Kelly Bishop's most recent movie or series?
Kelly Bishop's most recent release is "Dirty Dancing", comédie romantique engagée, which premiered on June 28, 2026.
What TV shows has Kelly Bishop appeared in?
On television, Kelly Bishop has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Shrinking.
Kelly Bishop
1944-02-28 · Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Kelly Bishop (born Carole Jane Bishop; on February 28, 1944) is an American actress, who is best known for her role as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls, and for her role as Jennifer Grey's mother in the film Dirty Dancing. She is also well remembered for her Tony-winning performance as Sheila in A Chorus Line.