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Jennifer Grey Chokes Up: ‘Dirty Dancing’ Star Gets Emotional While Presenting Dad Joel Grey’s Lifetime Achievement Award

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 04:45 PST, Jun 2, 2015

Jennifer Grey choked up Monday night while presenting her dad, Joel Grey, a prestigious award.

The Dirty Dancing star had the honor of helping to recognize her father with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in New York City, People Magazine reports.

The 55-year-old actress said she didn’t expect to have such an emotional response onstage.

“I didn’t expect to feel like that,” Jennifer, choking up, told the audience at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. “I feel like Liza [Minnelli], all gaspy and stuff!”

“Just give me a moment, sorry about that,” she said, as the crowd joined together in a round of applause.

Jennifer Grey continued her speech by recalling her favorite moments with her father, including “hanging out backstage with my dad at matinees.”

“I’m so inspired by my dad. By the sheer breadth of his work, his love of life,” she said. “As someone who has clung to his every move my entire life … his incredible career … only pales in comparison to the accomplishment of how he lives his life, his gigantic heart. This world is just markedly better for him being here.”

Before he was presented with the award, Joel spoke to reporters and said the best part of the night was having his daughter there with him. He said it is rare for them to be together, with their busy lifestyles and such.

“It’s just fun having my daughter here,” he said, according to KABC 790. “That’s the best part, because who knew with both of our careers and she being so busy and a mom and all that, the fact that she’s here at this moment without [us having tried to plan it] … neither one of us knew!”

“We couldn’t have planned it,” Jennifer added.

Joel has had a pretty momentous year. Along with achieving the award, he took the brave step to reveal to the public his sexuality and the story about his life as a gay man.

“Everybody has been so positive and up, and seemed to like the story,” he told People Magazine at the time, adding that Hollywood had been particularly supportive.

What do you think about Jennifer Grey getting choked up while presenting her dad the award? Leave your comments below.

[Photo by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images]

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