Jennifer Grey says it felt like ‘a sniper attack’ when her dad was outed as gay to her in late 80s

Jennifer Grey has detailed the painful way she learned about her father’s sexuality. 

The 62-year-old actress has written her memoir, Out of the Corner, which will be released May third. 

The title comes from the famous Dirty Dancing line in which co-star Patrick Swayze declared, ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner.’

One of the biggest revelations in the tome is about her father Joel Grey. 

The Oscar winning actor came out as gay in 2015 at the age of 82, but Jennifer said it was her then boyfriend’s mother who outed the Cabaret star to her much earlier.

It was the late 80s and the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off actress was dating Matthew Broderick at the time. She had starred as his sister in the hugely successful comedy.  

Supportive parents: Jennifer was born to actors Joel Grey and Jo Wilder in 1960.  The couple divorced in 1982, five years before the release of her biggest hit, Dirty Dancing, in 1987

Supportive daughter:  The Red Dawn actress said she speaks to her parents all the time and as to her father’s sexuality, ‘It’s really only for him… Like, who cares! People should feel good.’ Seen here with both parents and then-husband, Clark Gregg in 2016 

In an interview with People, Jennifer claimed Patricia Broderick said to her, ‘You know your dad’s a f*g.’  

The Reckless actor said she was shellshocked by the revelation .

‘All I know, all I knew at the time was that it felt like it was a sniper attack. The idea was that I was a fool and that everyone knew but me.’

Big reveal: Jennifer said she was dating her her Ferris Bueller’s Day Off co-star Matthew Broderick when his mother outed the actress’ dad, Joel Grey as being gay 

Jennifer said she is unsure of the late playwright’s motive in telling her.

‘Perhaps she was offended by my lack of knowing. I don’t know what she was thinking. She was, um, she was a tricky personality. I don’t know how else to put it. Like, she was a truth teller, truth bombs. A Cassandra. She was, like, come what may.’

In writing her life story, the new author said she, ‘had to ask myself, is it possible I didn’t know?”

Out of the corner:  The Dirty Dancing star’s book Out of the Corner is inspired by Patrick Swayze’s famous line, ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner’ 

Jennifer was born to actor Joel Grey and his wife, actress and singer Jo Wilder, in 1960.  She grew up in both California and New York, but studied acting during her high school years at the Dalton School and later at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in Manhattan before going on to win roles in Red Dawn, The Cotton Club and of course, Dirty Dancing. 

In the book, the Bittersweet Symphony star also tackles the problems she had getting work before and after her infamous nose job. The actress was married from 2001-2021 to The Avengers actor Clark Gregg.  The couple are parents to 20-year-old Stella.  Their daughter is following in her famous parents’ footsteps, with roles in Trust Me and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Jennifer’s parents divorced in 1982, but the actress said she is still close to both and speaks to them all the time.  As for her father’s sexuality, the loving daughter said, ‘It’s really only for him… Like, who cares! People should feel good.’

Tough topics: The Bittersweet Symphony actress tackles several tough topics in her new memoir, including the trouble she had getting hired for work before and after her infamous nose job