<P> Carole `` Kelly '' Bishop ( born February 28 , 1944 ) is an American actress and dancer , best known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls and as Marjorie Houseman , the mother of Jennifer Grey 's Frances `` Baby '' Houseman in the film Dirty Dancing . Bishop created the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line , for which she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical . She also starred as Fanny Flowers in the ABC Family short - lived comedy - drama series Bunheads . </P>
<P> Carole `` Kelly '' Bishop ( born February 28 , 1944 ) is an American actress and dancer , best known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls and as Marjorie Houseman , the mother of Jennifer Grey 's Frances `` Baby '' Houseman in the film Dirty Dancing . Bishop created the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line , for which she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical . She also starred as Fanny Flowers in the ABC Family short - lived comedy - drama series Bunheads . </P>
who played baby 's mother in the original dirty dancing
who played baby 's mother in the original dirty dancing
Carole `` Kelly '' Bishop
Carole `` Kelly '' Bishop