Cynthia Rhodes Biography

This Nashville native began her professional career as a singer and dancer at Opryland, U.S.A. in the early 1970s. An attractive blonde, Rhodes began to branch out into TV while still at Opryland. She segued to features as an ensemble dancer in the overblown disaster "Xanadu" (1980) and Francis Ford Coppola's musical misfire "One From the Heart" (1982). After a small role in the surprise smash "Flashdance" (1983), Rhodes landed one of the female leads opposite John Travolta in Sylvester Stallone's "Staying Alive" (also 1983), the unnecessary sequel to "Saturday Night Fever" (1977). Rhodes had her first non-musical role as Tom Selleck's partner in the effects-driven "Runaway" (1984). Perhaps her best screen role was as Patrick Swayze's sexy dance partner whose pregnancy opens the way for Jennifer Grey in the hit "Dirty Dancing" (1987). Rhodes has seemingly retired from screen acting since her 1989 marriage to singer Richard Marx.