Kelly Bishop is the actress who portrays Lorelai Gilmore's mom.
Carole `` Kelly '' Bishop ( born February 28 , 1944 ) is an American actress and dancer , best known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls and as the mother of Jennifer Grey 's character in the film Dirty Dancing . Lorelai Gilmore . The dynamic of single parenthood and the tension between Lorelai and her wealthy parents , Richard ( Edward Herrmann ) and especially her controlling mother , Emily ( Kelly Bishop ) , form the main theme of the series story line .