Can you recall Penny Johnson from the 1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣7️⃣’s classic movie after which she became an icon of the era?🤗👏 There, she was lucky enough to star with legendary Patrick Swayze! 🙌🤩 The character was played by Cynthia Rhodes, an actress who catapulted into global fame and recognition after Dirty Dancing and Staying Alive!🎬🎭 However, in the 1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣0️⃣s, in the peak of her drizzling career, she made a decision to leave Hollywood, thus dropping everyone’s jaws!🤯🤐 Interested why? 🤔🤨 If so, then see the article!👇
Cynthia Rhodes, renowned for her roles in iconic 1980s dance films like Dirty Dancing and Staying Alive, made a surprising decision to step away from the spotlight at the height of her career. At 67, Rhodes left behind a legacy of unforgettable performances in some of the most celebrated dance dramas of the era.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Cynthia was a talented singer and dancer. Her first major film role came in the 1980 musical Xanadu, alongside Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. But it was in 1983 that she truly began to make her mark, playing dancer Tina Tech in Flashdance. That same year, she landed a major role opposite John Travolta in Staying Alive, the sequel to Saturday Night Fever.
Her most famous role came in 1987’s Dirty Dancing, where she portrayed Penny Johnson, a dance instructor at a resort hotel. In this memorable role, Rhodes showcased her rhythmic talent through impressive Mambo-style moves, dancing alongside Patrick Swayze in powerful and emotional scenes. Penny’s character, who faces a life-changing abortion, added depth to the film’s exploration of reproductive rights, and her story resonated with audiences.
Rhodes described Penny as a complex character with a “hard edge,” someone who had been through a lot and struggled to open up. She said, “She’s sweet, but she’s held back because she’s been through a lot and has built up a wall.”
However, while Dirty Dancing catapulted her to fame, Rhodes’ career took an unexpected turn. Despite her success, she found the physical demands of dancing increasingly difficult. Training for 10 hours a day for her role in Dirty Dancing led to constant back and joint pain, prompting her to reconsider her future in dance. She said, “I kept telling myself I’d never dance again because of this. I’m done moving… my back hurts all the time and my bones hurt.”
At 31, Rhodes had a variety of career opportunities and was at the peak of her fame. The same year Dirty Dancing was released, she appeared in Richard Marx’s music video for “Don’t Mean Nothing.” She and Marx, who would later become her husband, shared a deep connection. They married in 1989 and had three children—Brandon, Lucas, and Jesse—through the early 1990s.
Rhodes made the choice to leave Hollywood to focus on raising their family, citing the physical toll that dancing had taken on her body. Marx recalled, “She quit in 1990 to take care of our children and because dancing caused her intense physical pain.” While many assumed she would eventually return to acting, Rhodes found fulfillment as a mother, which eclipsed any desire to return to the entertainment world. “No matter how much you love her as a dancer, singer, or actress, you should see her as a mom,” Marx shared.
Having started dancing at age three, Rhodes initially struggled with the idea of leaving her passion behind. But with time, she embraced the peace that came with stepping away. “I love dancing, but I wouldn’t mind if I never did it again,” she admitted.
Her final acting role was in Curse of the Crystal Eye in 1991, and after that, she retired from Hollywood for good. Though she and Marx separated in 2014, she has remained out of the public eye, focused on family life.
Today, her children are making their own marks in the entertainment world. Brandon is pursuing music, Lucas is acting and singing, with roles in TV shows like Chicago P.D. and Parenthood, and Jesse is involved in music as well, performing with a metal band.
Rhodes may have stepped away from Hollywood at the height of her career, but her legacy continues through her family and the unforgettable roles she left behind.
