12 Pieces Of Useless Trivia About Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze had to convince Jennifer Grey to star in the film, as she disliked him after starring together in Red Dawn.

Conan O'Brien led a campaign in 1997 to have Dirty Dancing re-released in cinemas. Afterwards, he claimed he didn't like the film all that much.

Dirty Dancing was Wayne Knight's first screen role.

Cynthia Rhodes and Patrick Swayze previously starred together in the music video for Toto's 1982 single, Rosanna.

The studio behind the film thought it was going to be a flop. One executive said that they should "burn the negative and collect the insurance money."

The director, Emile Ardolino, went on to direct Sister Act, Three Men And A Lady and Bette Midler's Gypsy. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 50.

Patrick Swayze was offered $6,000,000 to return as Johnny Castle for a sequel, but refused.

Jennifer Grey's laughing and Patrick Swayze's frustration in this scene was genuine. The director left the scene in as he felt it worked in context.

The dancing sequences were choregraphed by Kenny Ortega, who went on to direct Hocus Pocus, High School Musical and several episodes of Gilmore Girls.

Since 2009, Lake Lure in North Carolina has hosted an annual Dirty Dancing festival. It's where much of the film was shot.

Billy Zane and Sarah Jessica Parker screen-tested together for the role of Johnny Castle and Baby Houseman.

Much of the film was based on screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein's experiences as a teenager. She and her family visited the Catskills during the '60s.