He was one of the most charismatic and successful stars of the 80s, appearing in movies including Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Road House and Point Break, but sadly Patrick Swayze has died at the age of 57. His publicist released a statement saying that, “Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months.”
Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2008, a disease with a low survival rate that often kills in months. However thanks to a relatively slow progression of the disease and some experimental treatments, he not only survived longer than many had expected, but managed to continue working, starring in the TV series, The Beast.
Swayze first shot to fame as part of the ensemble in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders in 1983, before solidifying his status as Jed in Red Dawn and then taking a major role in the hit mini-series, North & South. However it was the success of Dirty Dancing in 1987 that lifted him to a whole new level of fame. He followed that movie with the likes of Steel Dawn and Road House, before scoring another enormous hit opposite Demi Moore in Ghost.
Although he never again quite replicated that success, he continued to appear in some interesting movies, including dragging up for To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar and Donnie Darko. He also appeared on-stage, including roles in Chicago on Broadway and Guys & Dolls in the West End.
Born on August 18th, 1952 in Houston, Texas, Swayze was the son of a rodeo cowboy and a dancer, which stood him in good stead for learning the athletic skill and dancing prowess he would use during his career. He excelled at sports in school, eventually receiving a gymnastics scolarship at San Jacinto college. After university he was intent on becoming a dancer, but an old football injury prevented this, and so he moved into musicals before heading to LA and trying his hand at acting for the big and small screen.
Whatever you think of his movies, with Ghost and Dirty Dancing in particular, he made two of the best-loved romances of the last 30 years, which have resonated with audiences to a impressive extent. He also leaves behind some immensely entertaining action flicks.
Patrick Swayze, RIP.