Trivia

Was originally cast in a minor part in the film Dirty Dancing (1987), but was then called upon to play a larger role when Lynn Lipton, the actress first cast as Baby's mother, became ill during the first week of shooting.

Trained in ballet, she attended the American Ballet Theatre and the San Jose Ballet schools.

At age 18 she made it to New York and landed her first job dancing in a year-round ballet company at Radio City Music Hall.

Won Broadway's 1976 Tony as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) for her performance as Sheila in the original production of "A Chorus Line."

Made a strong film debut in mid-career as one of Jill Clayburgh's close friends in Paul Mazursky's well-received drama Une femme libre (1978).

Was the first of the original cast members to leave "A Chorus Line".

Made her Broadway debut in the musical "Golden Rainbow" in 1967, but scored big as the sexy, streetwise Sheila in the Broadway production of "A Chorus Line" with her contribution in the song "At the Ballet". The performance earned her Tony and Drama Desk awards in 1976.

First worked with her "Chorus Line" director/choreographer Michael Bennett while appearing on Broadway in "Promises, Promises" in 1968.

She is an animal enthusiast.

Practices Pilates and aerobics and enjoys gardening and hiking.

She lives with her husband and their beloved pets in South Orange, New Jersey. (October 2006)

Her husband, Lee Leonard, was host of 'Jersey Talkin' on Channel 12, New Jersey. He was also the host of "Midday Live" a long-running local talk show on New York's WNYW-TV. Leonard was also an anchor at ESPN.