Trivia

As the mother of an autistic son, she was named national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks in 2008. She has also been a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Autism Research, now part of Autism Speaks. She has performed at benefits Foundation for Education Children with Autism (FECA).

She wanted to read the role of Rizzo at her Grease (1978) audition, but the producers decided that she was exactly right to play the part of Frenchy.

She once attended a school play of "Grease" at Nyack Middle School (in the play, "Danny" was played by Freaks and Geeks (1999) star John Francis Daley). Didi signed autographs for the cast, crew and audience.

Appeared in Grease Live! (2016) as the waitress, Vi, in the diner, who speaks to Frenchie, just before the song, "Beauty School Dropout". In the 1978 film Grease (1978), Didi played Frenchie and the waitress, Vi, was played by film legend Joan Blondell.

Daughter of a clinical psychologist.

Explained in a 2003 interview why her character Frenchy disappeared about halfway through Grease 2. She said when they began filming, the script was not even finished yet, but the draft they were using still had her character in it. However, the script was rewritten once again during filming, and her character had been written out, and she was told halfway through filming that she was no longer needed. Then, during the editing process, the filmmakers ultimately decided to include Frenchy in the final cut, though they had limited footage. Didi described the filming process as "rushed, frantic, and unorganized".

Executive produced a children's animated series called "Didi Delightful," which introduced a recurring autistic character. Didi's son was diagnosed autistic.

Was considered for the role of Olive Oyl in Popeye (1980)

In 2003, it was reported that she was a driving force behind a planned third Grease film. She was featured in the first two films as "Frenchie".

Friends with Olivia Newton-John.

Mother, with husband David Shire, of son Daniel 'Danny' Shire, born in 1992.

Studied mime with Tony Montanaro in the first year of his Celebration Mime Theatre.

Mother of a son named Danny.

Younger brother is bass-baritone opera star Richard Bernstein.

Stepmother of Matthew Shire.