Cynthia Rhodes, known for her iconic roles in Staying Alive and Dirty Dancing, is a legendary figure in 1980s dance dramas. As she approaches her 68th birthday in November 2024, it’s worth reflecting on why this Hollywood triple threat chose to retire at the peak of her career.
Rhodes was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and began her career with a small part in the 1980 film Xanadu, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Her breakout came with her portrayal of Tina Tech in Flashdance, followed by a significant role in Staying Alive, where she played the love interest of John Travolta.
However, it was her unforgettable performance as Penny Johnson in Dirty Dancing that solidified her status in Hollywood. In this role, she captivated audiences with her Mambo dancing alongside Patrick Swayze, while also delivering poignant emotional scenes, including the character’s harrowing experience with an illegal abortion.
Rhodes described Penny as a complex character who had endured a tough life, yet retained a sense of sweetness. The film not only showcased her dancing skills but also tackled important social issues, positioning its leads, including Rhodes, for stardom.
Despite her success, Rhodes decided to step back from the industry, citing the physical demands of dance. “Dancing became really hard”, she said, expressing her desire for roles that didn’t involve strenuous movement. “I keep saying I’ll never dance again… my bones hurt, my back hurts all the time”, she explained.
In 1987, the same year Dirty Dancing premiered, Rhodes appeared in Richard Marx’s music video for “Don’t Mean Nothing”. She married Marx in 1989 and welcomed three children: Brandon in 1990, Lucas in 1992, and Jesse in 1994. Marx noted that Rhodes found more fulfillment in motherhood than in her previous career, which she left in 1990 partly due to the intense physical pain from dancing.
Rhodes, who started dancing at the age of three, emphasized her love for it but acknowledged the toll it took on her body. “If I never danced again, I wouldn’t regret it”, she said, highlighting her contentment in focusing on her family.
Her last film appearance was in 1991’s Curse of the Crystal Eye. After divorcing Marx in 2014, she stepped further into her role as a mother, watching her children pursue careers in the arts: Brandon as a music producer, Lucas as a singer and actor, and Jesse as a musician in a metal band. While fans miss seeing Cynthia Rhodes on screen, her decision to leave Hollywood resonates, underscoring the high demands of a career in dance and the joy she found in motherhood.
Mariah Carey suffers unimaginable blow as mother and sister pass away on same “tragic” day
Superstar Mariah Carey disclosed that her mother, Patricia Carey, and sister, Alison Carey, died on the same day, causing an unimaginable sadness.
The Grammy Award-winning musician confirmed that two of her close relatives had passed away over the weekend in a message she sent.
Carey said, “I lost my mother this past weekend, and it broke my heart,” according to PEOPLE.
“Unfortunately, my sister passed away on the same day due to a tragic turn of events.”
It goes without saying that going through such a deep loss is an almost unequaled experience, but Carey did thank God she was able to spend time with her mother before she passed away.
The singer of All I Want For Christmas expressed gratitude for having spent the final week of her life with her mother.
“During this impossible time, I appreciate everyone’s love, support, and respect for my privacy.”
The causes of mother Patricia’s and sister Alison’s deaths remain unknown as of the time of writing. Prior to having daughters Alison and Mariah and son Morgan with Alfred Roy Carey, Patricia was a Juilliard-trained opera singer and voice instructor. When Mariah was three years old, her parents got divorced.
The We Belong Together hitmaker and her mother reportedly had a tumultuous relationship, according to PEOPLE.
“Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities,” Mariah Carey said in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. It’s always been a rainbow of feelings rather than just black and white.
Also strained was the singer’s relationship with Alison, at least as of the release of her previously mentioned memoir. Carey stated that it was “emotionally and physically safer for me not to have any contact” with her siblings in the book’s pages.
We are sending Mariah Carey our love and strength. Coping with the death of a loved one is really tough, but having two die away on the same day?
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