told her Instagram followers<\/a> about the 94-year-old\u2019s Fourth of July passing on Tuesday, writing that it was \u201con her own terms.\u201d<\/p>\nThe \u201cDirty Dancing\u201d star, 66, added, \u201cTrue to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\nJennifer Grey (pictured above in May 2023) revealed on Tuesday that her mom, Jo Wilder, died on the Fourth of July.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWilder (pictured above) died \u201cby her own choosing, on her own terms,\u201d the actress told her Instagram followers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/aside>\nShe paid tribute to her mom\u2019s \u201cgorgeous and talented\u201d life, from a \u201cpromising young actress on the New York stage\u201d who \u201cnever fully answered that calling\u201d to a \u201cmother\u201d to Jennifer and brother James Katz.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she\u2019d chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had,\u201d Grey wrote. \u201cHer passion found other outlets: she was a lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd for years, many people discovered her extraordinary eye through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose,\u201d she continued. \u201cShe was brave and deep.\u201d<\/p>\nWilder (pictured above) was diagnosed with lung cancer a week before her passing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGrey (pictured above in October 2024) honored her parent choosing \u201cgrace over fear.\u201d Getty Images for ZFF<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGrey concluded with a message to Wilder, reading, \u201cI love you, Mom. Thank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Golden Globe nominee\u2019s social media upload included various black-and-white photos of her late mother, some solo and others with Grey and Katz.<\/p>\n
A slew of A-listers shared their support in the comments section.<\/p>\nShe praised her \u201cgorgeous and talented\u201d mom (pictured above) for going from a \u201cpromising young actress\u201d to a mom of two.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cIf she\u2019d chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had,\u201d the \u201cDirty Dancing\u201d star (pictured above in October 2024) added. Penske Media via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cSending you so much love. What an extraordinary role model. \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f,\u201d Katie Couric wrote, while Julianne Moore added, \u201cSo sorry for your loss \ud83d\udc94.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grey\u2019s close pal Tracy Pollan<\/a>, Michael J. Fox\u2019s wife, also gushed over the moving tribute.<\/p>\n\u201cI am thinking of you and the radiant Jo Wilder today,\u201d the 66-year-old wrote. \u201cI feel so blessed to have had your beautiful mother in my life. I will cherish my memories of her warmth, love and guidance. So heartbroken she is gone, but grateful she left us with the dignity she lived with. I love you both.\u201d<\/p>\nShe concluded the social media upload with a message to Wilder (pictured above in May 1997). Penske Media via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cI love you, Mom,\u201d Grey (pictured above as a child in 1967) wrote. \u201cThank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace.\u201d Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGrey\u2019s ex-husband, Clark Gregg, commented with multiple heart emojis.<\/p>\n
The \u201cFerris Bueller\u2019s Day Off\u201d star frequently raved over her mother on the social media platform<\/a> in recent years, most recently on Mother\u2019s Day 2024.<\/p>\n\u201cSo lucky to be able to celebrate our dear ol\u2019 mom, Jo Wilder!!\u201d she wrote at the time. \u201cHad the best time today with my brother and this 92 year old beauty!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2026%2F07%2Fjennifer-grey-mom-passing.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\")
<\/p>\n