Carole "Kelly" Bishop is an American actress and dancer, best known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls, and as the mother of Jennifer Grey's character in the film Dirty Dancing. Bishop created the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line, for which s...
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Nominations
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Musical or Comedy Series
Movies
Dirty Dancing, An Unmarried Woman, Private Parts, Friends with Kids, Wonder Boys, Me and Him, Miami Rhapsody, A Novel Romance, Six Degrees of Separation, Queens Logic, Saint Janet, O'Hara's Wife, My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception
TV Shows
Gilmore Girls, Bunheads, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, The Thorns, My Wildest Dreams
Star Sign
Pisces
#
Quote
1
I would never be Emily's friend in real life. She's so opinionated and status quo - definitely not my kind of woman.
2
I have played a couple of nice moms in my career [think Jennifer Grey's mom in the classic film Dirty Dancing] but, in my opinion, playing nice is a complete bore! The nastier they are the more fun they are [as in Howard Stern's mom in Private Parts, perhaps?].
3
My friends and neighbors get such a kick out of watching me on television and in movies. They see me do and say things that I would never even think of doing in my real life. They just think it is hysterical, especially when I play mean.
4
My relationship with Lauren is nothing like the roles we play on the show. I am just crazy about my girls. Practically from the moment [Lauren and I] met, we had an instant connect. We never even had to discuss what we wanted to do with our roles. It's as if we have this emotional shorthand.
#
Fact
1
She lives with her husband and their beloved pets in South Orange, New Jersey. [October 2006]
2
Trained in ballet, she attended the American Ballet Theatre and the San Jose Ballet schools.
3
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.
4
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.
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.
7
Practices Pilates and aerobics and enjoys gardening and hiking.
8
First worked with her "Chorus Line" director/choreographer Michael Bennett while appearing on Broadway in "Promises, Promises" in 1968.
9
Was the first of the original cast members to leave "A Chorus Line".
10
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."
11
Her husband, Lee Leonard, is 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.
12
She is an animal enthusiast.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
All My Children
1995
TV Series
Freida Landau
Miami Rhapsody
1995
Zelda
Six Degrees of Separation
1993
Adele
Murphy Brown
1992
TV Series
Connie Silverberg
Law & Order
1992
TV Series
Marian Borland
ABC Afterschool Specials
1992
TV Series
Roxanne Holden
Queens Logic
1991
Maria
The Baby-Sitters Club
1990
TV Series
Flora Tronell
Me and Him
1988
Eleanor Aramis
The Thorns
1988
TV Series
Ginger Thorn
Dirty Dancing
1987
Marjorie Houseman
Solarbabies
1986
Tutor Nover
The Recovery Room
1985
TV Movie
Kaye Brenner
Kate & Allie
1984
TV Series
Paulette
The New Odd Couple
1983
TV Series
Charity
O'Hara's Wife
1982
Beth Douglas
Hart to Hart
1982
TV Series
Laura
Advice to the Lovelorn
1981
TV Movie
Rita Borden
An Unmarried Woman
1978
Elaine
Hawaii Five-O
1976
TV Series
Charlene Jenkins
Step Out of Your Mind
1966
Missy Linden (as Carole Bishop)
As the World Turns
1956
TV Series
Grace Wescott Andrews (1987)
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
2016
TV Mini-Series
Emily Gilmore
The Good Wife
2010-2016
TV Series
Bea Wilson / Mrs. Kent
Flesh and Bone
2015
TV Mini-Series
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll
2015
TV Series
Elizabeth
Dangerous Liaisons
2014
TV Movie
Lucille Julien
Saint Janet
2014
Janet
Bunheads
2012-2013
TV Series
Fanny Flowers
A Novel Romance
2011
Lily Sparks
Friends with Kids
2011
Marcy Fryman
Mercy
2010
TV Series
Lauren Kempton
Army Wives
2009
TV Series
Jean Calhoun
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
2000-2009
TV Series
Julia Zimmer / Registrar
Gilmore Girls
2000-2007
TV Series
Emily Gilmore
Wonder Boys
2000
Amanda Leer
Blue Moon
2000
Peggy's Mother
My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception
1999
Sylvia Wienstein
Private Parts
1997
Ray Stern
One Life to Live
1989-1996
TV Series
Dr. Robbins / Serena Wyman
My Wildest Dreams
1995
TV Series
Gloria James
Cafe Society
1995
Mrs. Jelke
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Gilmore Girls
2005-2007
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broadway: The Next Generation
2018
Documentary filming
Herself
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2016
Documentary post-production
Herself
Seriously Dirty Dancing
2007
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Dirty Dancing: The Time of Your Life
2007
TV Series
Herself
A Tribute to Jerry Orbach
2007
Video short
Herself
Gilmore Girls Backstage Special
2004
TV Movie
Herself
Curtain Time
1994
TV Series
Herself (1994-1995)
Donahue
1990
TV Series
Herself
The 30th Annual Tony Awards
1976
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Every Little Step
2008
Documentary
Herself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2004
Gold Derby TV Award
Gold Derby Awards
Comedy Supporting Actress
Gilmore Girls (2000)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2006
Gold Derby TV Award
Gold Derby Awards
Comedy Supporting Actress
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2005
Gold Derby TV Award
Gold Derby Awards
Comedy Supporting Actress
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2005
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2004
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2004
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Comedy or Musical
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2003
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Gilmore Girls (2000)
2003
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Comedy or Musical
$7 Million
