Billy Dee Williams Signs On for ABC's DIRTY DANCING Remake

The cast of ABC's upcoming three-hour remake of the 1987 classic DIRTY DANCING continues to grow. Today, Deadline reports that Star Wars' Billy Dee Williams will portray the 1960's Catskill Mountain resort's bandleader Tito, a role originally played by Charles 'Honi' Coles in the film. The character is described as the overseer of the hotel's musicians and entertainers.

ABC's remake will follow Baby (Abigail Breslin), an innocent young woman in the early 1960s who vacations with her affluent parents and siblings in the Catskills and falls for Johnny (Cole Prattes), the resort's charismatic, skilled dance instructor and leader of the working-class entertainment staff."

As previously reported, MODERN FAMILY star Sarah Hyland will play Baby's sister Lisa while Nicole Scherzinger takes on the role of Penny. "Mysteries of Laura' star Debra Messing will play Baby's mother.

Williams is perhaps best known as Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars film. His other big screen credits include Brian's Song and Batman. Most recently, he appeared in The Man From 3 B, and lent his voice to the animated The Lego Movie, Star Wars Rebels, ROBOT CHICKEN and Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales.

Image: ABC/Dancing With the Stars