Patrick Swayze Loses Valiant Fight, Dies At Age 57
Actor Patrick Swayze has lost his fight with pancreatic cancer. The man best known for playing a ghost seeking closure with his life, passed away yesterday after a bravely fought battle for the last 20 months.
Swayze, who starred in two hugely popular films, “Ghost” and “Dirty Dancing” became a heart throb through his sincere and earnest performances, making women swoon. He even had a hit song, “She’s Like The Wind,” from the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack.
What makes Patrick unique in Hollywood is his anti-Hollywood persona. Married to his childhood sweetheart for the past 34 years and no hint of personal drama, Swayze was all class to the very end. His film choices and the passion in which he infused in his characters left an indelible mark on popular culture — plus his Texas charm and good looks made him loved by many women. He was like a genuinely gentle cowboy. Sigh.
Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, in Houston, Texas. His father was an engineering draftsman; his mother was a ballet dancer and later the director of the Houston Ballet Dance Company.She led her son into the dancing world, which wasn’t always easy for a Texas male. Indeed, the young Swayze played football, practiced martial arts and was an accomplished diver and track star while growing up, though he was good enough at dance to earn a college scholarship.
After an early professional job playing Prince Charming in an early ’70s version of “Disney on Ice,” Swayze returned to Houston, where he met Lisa Niemi, a student of his mother’s. The two were married in 1975 and moved to New York to pursue their careers. See timeline of Swayze’s life ยป
Swayze seemed set on a dance career: He studied with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet and joined another company, the Eliot Feld Ballet Company. But surgery for an old football injury ended his ballet career and he turned to acting, nabbing the lead role of Danny Zuko in the long-running Broadway production of “Grease” in 1978, around the time the movie starring John Travolta was hitting theaters. “Grease” earned him some Hollywood attention, and he and Niemi moved West.
After a couple of bit parts, including one in a 1981 episode of “M*A*S*H,” Swayze picked up the role of Darrel Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film of “The Outsiders,” which also included future stars Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise. Swayze was also one of the leads in 1984’s “Red Dawn,” about teenagers defending their town from a Soviet attack on America.
“Not only did we lose a fine actor today, I lost my older ‘Outsiders’ brother,” said actor C. Thomas Howell, who also starred with Swayze in “Red Dawn” and “Grandview, U.S.A.”
But it was with “Dirty Dancing” that Swayze hit it big. The film about a girl’s coming of age at a Catskills resort in the early ’60s was intended for a limited release but became one of the decade’s biggest sleeper hits and made Swayze and Grey household names.
The film gave birth to a catchphrase — “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” spoken by Swayze’s character to Grey’s domineering father (Jerry Orbach) — and eventually led to a follow-up, 2004’s “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” Swayze even sang a Top 10 hit, “She’s Like the Wind,” on the film’s soundtrack.
Swayze, known as a down-to-earth, nice-guy actor, was determined not to follow a predictable career path.
I loved Patrick in “Ghost,” perhaps one the most romantic movies ever. His wife Lisa is a lucky woman and our hearts goes out to her and Patrick’s family.
R.I.P
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Great write up on Patrick. I had such a crush on him growing up. To this day, Dirty Dancing is still one of my all time favorite movies. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, especially his wife. It sounds like they had one of those rare love stories. Rest in Peace Patrick!
Comment by Rebecca — September 15, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
How sad, he was so young yet.
PS You have spelled valiant wrong in the title.
Comment by Nikki — September 15, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
He was one of the good guys.
R.I.P. Patrick
Comment by Rachel — September 15, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Patrick wrote/sang ‘She’s Like the Wind’? That was/is one of my all time favorite songs.
Such a sad loss. This has been a BAD YEAR for celebs.
Married for 34 years to the smae woman… most of us should BE so lucky.
R.I.P. Patrick. One of the VERY FEW people of Hollywood I liked.
Comment by A_Watcher — September 15, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
Thanks Nikki, good catch!
I’ve read several more stories about his life today and he really was an amazing man who truly loved his wife. Even though we were expecting his death, ultimately I had hoped for a miracle.
Comment by D — September 15, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
i hope his death at such a young age will shed light on the dangers of smoking…that even though he was active and physically fit, it didn’t matter since he smoked 3 packs a day
Comment by bb — September 16, 2009 @ 6:55 pm