The 'People v. O.J. Simpson' actor will play Baby's overprotective dad.
ABC's Dirty Dancing reboot has finally found Baby's father.
Bruce Greenwood has joined the three-hour musical as Dr. Jake Houseman, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Written and exec produced by Jessica Sharzer (American Horror Story, The L Word), the movie follows in the footsteps of the 1987 hit film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, and is set in the early 1960s. The film centers on Baby (Abigail Breslin), an innocent young woman who vacations with her affluent parents at a Catskill Mountains resort and gets swept off her feet by Johnny (Colt Prattes), a handsome, working-class dance instructor.
A well-known, type-A heart surgeon, Jake met his wife, Marjorie (Debra Messing), waiting tables at the same Catskills resort where he is now bringing his family — his first time back in a decade. Jake does his best to protect his beloved younger daughter, Baby, as she develops a summer crush on Johnny and makes friends with the staff.
Jerry Orbach famously played the role of Jake in the original film. Greenwood joins a cast that includes Nicole Scherzinger and Modern Family's Sarah Hyland.
The remake hails from Lionsgate TV and Allison Shearmur Productions (The Hunger Games), with the original film's screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein, attached as an executive producer. Grammy nominee Adam Anders and Peer Astrom (Glee) serve as executive music producers for ABC's rendition, with Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, Bring It On) onboard as choreographer. Anders and Judy Cairo (Crazy Heart) will produce the movie, which will be directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires). Stephen Altman (Gosford Park) is set as production designer.
Greenwood can currently be seen on FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson as then-Los Angeles County district attorney Gil Garcetti. The actor, who is known for his roles in Mad Men, Star Trek Into Darkness, Thirteen Days and Flight, is repped by Gersh and Binder & Associates.
ABC has not yet set a premiere date for Dirty Dancing.