It has been a staple in many film collections since its release in 1987 and is widely regarded as a classic, but Dirty Dancing was a bit of an underdog when it first opened.

The romantic drama wasn't full to the brim with A-list stars and was made on a shoe-string budget over around two months in a cool Autumn in Carolina - yep, it wasn't even filmed in the Catskills in summer.

However, Dirty Dancing became a runaway hit, making huge stars of leads Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, and meant that the track Time of My Life would play in our hearts forever.

Also, who could forget that iconic lift in that emotional climactic dance sequence?

It was so good that Ryan Gosling recreated with Emma Stone in the rom-com Crazy Stupid Love.

Now, as news comes that Jennifer is set to star in and executive produce a sequel film, we hope it has better luck for her and the cast this time around.

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in a scene from the film 'Dirty Dancing', 1987 (

Image:

Getty Images)

This is because the cast of the original Dirty Dancing film appear to have been cursed with tragedy and heartbreak since its release.

Patrick Swayze

Despite doubt about his casting due to his being a decade older than co-star Jennifer at the age of 34, Patrick's sizzling chemistry with his leading lady won him the role.

Top Gun actor Val Kilmer had been a favourite and Titanic star Billy Zane was dropped due to zero chemistry with Jennifer, but Patrick's toned physique and killer dance moves were a hit.

However, the leads of the film were not in a good place behind the scenes and clashed.

Patrick and Jennifer had tension behind the scenes (

Image:

REUTERS)

Patrick wrote in his memoir about her: "She'd slip into silly moods, forcing us to do scenes over and over."

He added: "We did have a few moments of friction... she seemed particularly emotional, sometimes bursting into tears if someone criticised her."

However, despite all of the talk about friction between the pair, Jennifer was heartbroken when Patrick passed away due to pancreatic cancer in 2009 at the age of 57.

"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace," said Jennifer after his death.

Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009 (

Image:

Getty Images)

"He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.

"When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see."

Jennifer Grey

27-year-old Jennifer beat the likes of Sharon Stone and Sarah Jessica Parker for the part of innocent teen Baby in Dirty Dancing.

However, the tension between her Patrick Swayze made filming uncomfortable but all the better for the screen.

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze brought their tension to the screen as chemistry

"The thing is that I believe tension is much hotter-looking than just love," said Jennifer. "And I think there was a very complex dynamic between Patrick and myself for the whole movie."

Days before the premiere of Dirty Dancing, Jennifer and her Ferris Bueller co-star and then-beau Matthew Broderick were caught up in a horrific car crash.

Both survived but the crash killed a mother and daughter and left Jennifer with chronic neck pain.

Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey were involved in a car crash in 1987 (

Image:

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Broderick was later convicted of careless driving and fined $175.

The event left her feeling unable to enjoy the fame she found as Dirty Dancing was released, later saying she had survivor's guilt.

Her spine became so degenerated as a result that she required surgeries in 2009 due to her getting close to paralysis.

Jennifer felt consequences of the car crash for the rest of her life (

Image:

Getty Images)

Jennifer survived the surgery and discovered she had a cancer tumour in her thyroid but managed to beat that condition too.

Earlier this year, Jennifer revealed that she was divorcing her husband Clark Gregg after nineteen years of marriage.

The pair have an 18-year-old daughter named Stella together, who they will continue to parent together as friends.

Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey announced their divorce earlier this year (

Image:

WireImage)

They wrote on social media: "After 19 years together, we separated in January, knowing we'd always be a family who loves, values and cares for each other.

"We recently made the difficult decision to divorce, but we remain close and are deeply grateful for the life we've shared and the wonderful daughter we've raised. - Jennifer and Clark".

Max Cantor

Handsome Max Cantor played charming but duplicitous Robbie who seduced both Baby's sister Lisa and got lead dancer Penny pregnant.

Cantor had grown up in New York in the Dakota Building and was on friendly terms with music icon John Lennon who lived there.

His first major acting role was Dirty Dancing but it would also be his last as he quit the showbiz world for journalism.

Max Cantor died from an overdose at the age of 32

However, his career as a journalist wouldn't last long as Max was found dead in his Chelsea studio apartment at the age of 32.

Neighbours had complained of the smell coming from his room and the investigation saw his body discovered lying face up upon his bed.

Max had died from an overdose of Prozac, heroin, and cocaine, having begun substance abuse whilst obsessively researching the murder of dancer Monika Beerle, who had been dismembered by the killer and cannibal Daniel Rakowitz in 1989.

Rakowitz had boiled Beerle's head and made a soup from her brains which he liked the taste of and then went on to serve the homeless in Tompkins Square Park.

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