The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use and abortion.

Kelly Bishop is an acclaimed American actress and dancer, and the author of The Third Gilmore Girl. The memoir was written as she approached age 80; it recounts the most significant incidents of her personal life and diverse career in show business.

Born Carole Bishop on February 28, 1944, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the author was raised in Denver. At the age of 18, she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina in the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. When her audition was unsuccessful, Bishop began chorus dancing on Broadway. Her big break arrived in 1975, when she took the role of Sheila Bryant in the hit musical A Chorus Line. Her portrayal earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Following her success on Broadway, Bishop transitioned into television and film while occasionally returning to the stage. Her best-known film role was as Marjorie Houseman, the mother of Jennifer Grey’s character in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. Bishop’s most iconic television role was in the series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007), where she portrayed sharp-tongued matriarch Emily Gilmore.