open/close all folders
The Houseman Family
Frances "Baby" Houseman
- Film Version Portrayed by Jennifer GreyMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Abigail Breslin
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Her first impression of Johnny, though he turns out to be not that bad of a boy.
- Betty and Veronica : Although she's not really that interested, Neil is the Betty to Johnny as Veronica.
- Big Brother Instinct: Technically little sister instinct, but Baby warns Robbie to stay away from Lisa or he'll have him fired, even emptying a pitcher of water on his front.
- Bookworm : She brings a suitcase full of books on vacation.
- Dumb Blonde: Inverted, Baby is starting Mt. Holyoke in the fall. In the 1987 film, she intends to study economics of Third World countries; in the remake, she wants to be a doctor.
- Daddy's Girl: Is certainly seen as closer to her father.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: But of course.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Baby is the responsible sibling to Lisa’s foolish.
- Jewish and Nerdy: A rare female example.
- Pink Means Feminine: She wears a hot pink dress during her first competitive dance scene with Johnny, and at the iconic ending scene of the film she wears a soft pink dress.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: Deconstructed: Her idealistic world-view is challenged over the course of the film.
Dr. Jake Houseman
- Film Version Portrayed by Jerry OrbachMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Bruce Greenwood
- Big Damn Heroes: Saved Penny after the dodgy abortion, of course.
- Papa Wolf: He loves his daughters and is very protective of them, which explains his dislike for Johny, as he mistakenly thought he'd gotten Penny pregnant and just sent her off to be butchered.
- Parental Favoritism: He and Baby are very close. He’s all the more furious when he learns about her relationship with Johnny.
Lisa Houseman
- Film Version Portrayed by Jane BruckerMade-for-TV Version Portrayed by Sarah Hyland
- Brainless Beauty: Lisa is not the brightest.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Lisa is the foolish to Baby’s responsible.
- Hollywood Tone-Deaf: Lisa is not the most skilled singer.
- The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: Has this with Baby, though it mostly overlaps with One Sided Rivalry.
- The Unfavorite: Ditzy she may be, but Lisa can tell that Baby is their fathers favorite.
Marjorie Houseman
- Film Version Portrayed by Kelly BishopMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Debra Messing
- Parental Obliviousness: Marge is largely unaware of what Baby is up to.
- Women Are Wiser: Majorie is more rational in comparison to Jake.
Kellerman's Entertainment Staff
Johnny Castle
- Film Version Portrayed by Patrick SwayzeMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Colt Prattes
- Mr. Fanservice: And how!
Penny Johnson
- Film Version Portrayed by Cynthia RhodesMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Nicole Scherzinger
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Towards Baby, who she dismisses as just a kid at first but gradually opens up to about her pregnancy situation.
- Good Girls Avoid Abortion: Averted to the point where she needs medical attention after a back alley procedure.
- Pink Means Feminine: She wears a lot of pink dresses at various dance competions.
- The Not-Love Interest: Baby first thinks Penny and Johnny are a couple, but they're just great dance partners. Penny herself believes Baby and Johnny deserve each other.
The Kellerman Family
Max Kellerman
- Film Version Portrayed by Jack WestonMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Ron Stafford
Neil Kellerman
- Film Version Portrayed by Lonny PriceMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Trevor Einhorn
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's a condescending snob. . . who's planning to join the Freedom Riders the following summer, so he clearly can't be that bad.
Other Kellerman's Staff and Guests
Vivian Pressman
- Film Version Portrayed by Miranda GarrisonMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Katey Sagal
Robbie Gould
- Film Version Portrayed by Max CantorMade-for-TV Movie Version Portrayed by Shane Harper
- Demoted to Extra: Happens in the Made-for-TV Movie, with Lisa instead pursuing a new love interest, Marco Suarez, a member of the resort's house band, which is led by his father, Tito Suarez.
- Handsome Lech: He's a jerk, but a handsome one.
- Jerkass: Is completely dismissive of Penny after he gets her pregnant and leads on multiple women at the same time, including Baby's own sister, Lisa.
- Slut-Shaming: His justification for his treatment of Penny.
