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.
Taylor Swift is being accused of removing the famous artist from the Super Bowl seat
Kanye West apparently intended to upstage Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl but the pop superstar torpedoed his plan at Ieast, that’s what one former NFL star is claiming.
Brandon Marshall who played in the league from 2006-2018 for a number of teams made the shocking allegation on his “Paper Route” podcast this week explaining that he’d heard Ye purposeIy purchased seats right in front of Tay Tay’s suite for the Big Game.
According to this purported tea the idea, it seems, was an attempt to photobomb all her inevitable TV appearances. On its face, it comes across as a good old-fashioned spite effort.
However, the ex-All-Pro receiver explained the alleged scheme never came to fruition as Swift made “a call or two” to have Ye kicked out of Allegiant Stadium entirely that’s what Brandon’s cIaiming anyway.
Take it all with a grain of salt, but considering how polarizing Ye has been recently and Swift being the non-athlete face of the SB champs this season it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility the league may have nudged KW to somewhere a little more Iow-key.
It’s also hard to say with any certainty whether she actually got him fully kicked out or not, as Brandon suggests here especially if he bought a ticket lawfully and by the book.
In any case BM sounds 100% confident that he’s breaking news with the world here. Also worth noting TMZ spoke with Ye for several minutes on Monday and he onIy mentioned Swift in a pretty lukewarm manner.
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