Didi Conn was born Edith Bernstein, July 13, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York, she is memorable for her role as "Frenchy" in Grease. With over 40 film and television credits, we should acknowledge Didi's work in The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980), Grease 2 (1982), Benson, Shining Time Station (1989), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)....
David Shire (m. 1982), Frankie Conn (m. 1975–1978)
Children
Daniel Shire
Siblings
Richard Bernstein, Brandon Bernstein
Movies
Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, You Light Up My Life, Grease, Grease 2, Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Shooting Vegetarians, Frida, Hollywood Singing and Dancing: The 1970s, Violet, Star Fairies
TV Shows
Shining Time Station, The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda, Benson, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, The Practice
Star Sign
Cancer
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Trademark
1
little girl voice
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Quote
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[Kids today] think Grease (1978) is just one long music video. So they watch it over and over again the way we, when we were kids, we listened to albums.
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Fact
1
Appeared in Grease Live! (2016) (TV Move) as the waitress in the diner that speaks to Frenchy just before the song "Beauty School Dropout". In the 1978 film Didi played Frenchy and the waitress was a film legend Joan Blondell.
2
Explained in a 2003 interview why her character Frenchy disappeared about halfway through Grease 2. She said when they began filming, the script was not even finished yet, but the draft they were using still had her character in it. However, the script was rewritten once again during filming, and her character had been written out, and she was told halfway through filming that she was no longer needed. Then, during the editing process, the filmmakers ultimately decided to include Frenchy in the final cut, though they had limited footage. Didi described the filming process as "rushed, frantic, and unorganized".
The mother of a son diagnosed with autism, she was named national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks in 2008. She has also been a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Autism Research, now part of Autism Speaks. She has performed at benefits for Foundation for Education Children with Autism (FECA).
6
Executive produced a children's animated series called "Didi Delightful," which will introduce a recurring character with autism.
7
In 2003, it was reported that she was a driving force behind a planned third Grease film. She was featured in the first two films as "Frenchie".
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Studied mime with Tony Montanaro in the first year of his Celebration Mime Theatre.
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She once attended a school play of "Grease" at Nyack Middle School (in the play, "Danny" was played by Freaks and Geeks (1999) star John Francis Daley). Didi signed autographs for the cast, crew and audience.
TV Movie documentary performer: "Summer Nights" - uncredited
Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure
1977
performer: "I Look, And What Do I See?", "I'm Just a Rag Dolly/Poor Babette/A Miracle", "Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers", "I'm Home", "Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers Reprise"
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Didi Lightful
2012
Short executive producer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Oz
2001
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Good Day L.A.
2013
TV Series
Herself
My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story
2009
Documentary
Herself (as Didi Conn-Shire)
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's
2009
Video documentary
Herself
A Benefit Performance for Barack Obama featuring Toni Morrison
2009
Video
Herself
TV Land Confidential
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself - Interviewee
The Xtra Factor
2006
TV Series
Herself
Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Time, the Place, the Motion: Remembering Grease
2006
Video short
Herself
E! True Hollywood Story
2006
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 100 Greatest Family Films
2005
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Ultimate Film
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Intimate Portrait
1998-2004
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 100 Greatest Musicals
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
I Love the '70s
2003
TV Series documentary
Herself
Inside the Actors Studio
2003
TV Series
Herself - Guest Audience
After They Were Famous
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
VH-1 Where Are They Now?
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself / Frenchy
Grease 20th Anniversary Re-Release Party
2002
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Bravo Profiles
2001
TV Series documentary
Herself
Behind the Music
2001
TV Series documentary
Herself / Frenchy
Oz
2001
TV Series
Herself
Saturday Night Live
1998
TV Series
Herself
Funny
1988
Documentary
Herself
The $10,000 Pyramid
1978-1985
TV Series
Herself
Body Language
1984
TV Series
Herself
Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour
1984
TV Series
Herself
The 38th Annual Tony Awards
1984
TV Special
Herself - Audience Member
Go
1984
TV Series
Herself
Circus of the Stars #7
1982
TV Special documentary
Herself - Performer
The Hollywood Squares
1977-1980
TV Series
Herself
Chain Reaction
1980
TV Series
Herself
The 5th Annual People's Choice Awards
1979
TV Special
Herself - Accepting Award for Favourite Musical Motion Picture