Episode 131 – Frenchy Forever: Talking Everything Grease with Didi Conn – Part 1
In the first half of this special two-part conversation, Tony Miros chats with the incomparable Didi Conn—forever beloved as “Frenchy” from the classic movie musical Grease. Didi spills delightful behind-the-scenes stories about her co-stars (including the honorary “papi” who looks out for all the Greasers), the making of her book Frenchy’s Grease Scrapbook, and how the cast’s stage experience shaped the film’s magic. She even shares the origin of the iconic “Brusha Brusha Brusha” moment.
Didi takes us back to her early days—from dancing at the Martha Graham studio to dreaming of a theater career, landing commercials, and her hilarious first encounter with Henry Winkler that led to roles on Happy Days and beyond. Along the way, she reveals how she never let her unique voice limit her, mastering accents and taking on all kinds of characters.
In a moving and powerful moment, Didi opens up about her difficult experience making You Light Up My Life, which she calls her “Me Too” story. She shares how it affected her confidence for years, why she avoided press for the film, and the surprising way she met Debbie Boone. Her honesty is heartfelt, inspiring, and unforgettable.
From her crush on Tim Matheson while filming Almost Summer to her unmade idea for a Grease sequel, Didi’s stories are funny, touching, and packed with Hollywood history. Whether you’re a lifelong Pink Lady or simply love a good showbiz tale, this episode will leave you smiling, laughing, and maybe even tearing up—straight from Frenchy herself.
DIDI CONN
Beloved by audiences around the world, Didi Conn is best known as Frenchy, the bubbly beauty school drop-out from Grease and Grease 2. She reprised her connection to the iconic musical in Fox’s Grease: Live! and authored Frenchy’s Grease Scrapbook: We’ll Always Be Together (Hyperion).
Her film credits include You Light Up My Life, The Magic Show, Thomas and the Magic Railroad (with Alec Baldwin), Frida, and the Academy Award-winning short Violet. On television, Didi starred on The Practice with Danny Thomas, spent three seasons on Benson, and became a children’s TV favorite as Stacy Jones on PBS’s Shining Time Station.
On stage, she made her Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers and has appeared in The Green Bird, The Vagina Monologues, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and Souls of Naples with John Turturro in both New York and Italy.
In 2019, she charmed UK audiences as the oldest contestant ever to compete on Dancing on Ice and has recently appeared on Blue Bloods and the Amazon Prime comedy-drama Overcompensating.
A passionate advocate, Didi serves as the national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks. She lives between New York and Los Angeles with her husband, award-winning composer David Shire, and their son, Daniel.
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Didi Conn
Actress / Author / Comedienne
Actress and comedienne Didi Conn is beloved worldwide for her iconic role as Frenchy, the bubbly beauty school drop-out, in the hit films “Grease” and “Grease 2.” She celebrated the 25th anniversary of “Grease” by authoring “Frenchy’s Grease Scrapbook: We’ll Always Be Together” (Hyperion) and later returned to the role in a new way—playing Vi in Fox Television’s “Grease: Live!.”
On film, Didi starred in “You Light Up My Life,” “The Magic Show,” “Almost Summer,” and voiced Raggedy Ann in the animated musical “The Adventures of Raggedy Ann & Andy.” She played the title role in the Academy Award-winning short film “Violet” and appeared in “Thomas and the Magic Railroad” (with Alec Baldwin), “Frida,” “Shooting Vegetarians,” “Helen at Risk,” “Oh Baby!,” and “Most Likely to Murder.”
Television audiences know her as a series regular on “The Practice” with Danny Thomas and for her three-season run on the hit sitcom “Benson.” For an entire generation of children—and their parents—she is fondly remembered as Station Mistress Stacy Jones on PBS’s award-winning “Shining Time Station,” a role she played for a decade.
On Broadway, Didi made her debut as Bella in Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning “Lost in Yonkers.” She has also been heard as the voice of Gracie Allen in the national tour of “Say Goodnight, Gracie!,” played Smeraldina in Julie Taymor’s “The Green Bird” at the Cort Theatre, and appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in “A Christmas Carol” starring Tony Roberts. Her Off-Broadway credits include “Souls of Naples” (with John T… Read More
