Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into viewers’ hearts with Dirty Dancing and then broke them with Ghost, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.
“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” said a statement released on Monday evening by his publicist. No other details were given.
Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer.
He had kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting The Beast, an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot. It drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.
Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making The Beast because they would have taken the edge off his performance. He acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease.
When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was “considerably more optimistic” than that.
“I’d say five years is pretty wishful thinking,” Swayze told The View‘s Barbara Walters in early 2009. “Two years seems likely if you’re going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I’d better get a fire under it.”
A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad-boy Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing. As the son of a choreographer who began his career in musical theater, he seemed a natural to play the role.
A coming-of-age romance starring Jennifer Grey as an idealistic young woman on vacation with her family and Swayze as the Catskills resort’s sexy (and much older) dance instructor, the film made great use of both his grace on his feet and his muscular physique.
It became an international phenomenon in the summer of 1987, spawning albums, an Oscar-winning hit song in “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life,” stage productions and a sequel, 2004′s Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, in which he made a cameo. He also appeared in the cult hit Donnie Darko.
Swayze’s other television crdits include North and South, and an early career appearance in MASH. His last television show The Beast airs on ABC2 tonight.
This post updates.
Source: Associated Press
is it too early to ask Whoopi Goldberg is she can see Patrick Swayze?
The world has lost a lovely man. RIP Patrick
“Dirty Dancing”, “Ghost” and the mini series “North And South” are my favourites.
He was such a talented, gorgeous man, who from what I’d read, was a true Gentlemen too.
My prayers & thoughts go to his family, friends & many fans worldwide.
Rest In Peace, Patrick.
The pain is gone.
But you leave a shining light within our hearts forever.
Roadhouse will always be my favouite Swayze movie. It is what it is andI always loved it. Seemed like a really good guy too,
RIP Patrick……..The pain is over.
@Steve – The first half of your comment was touching and appropriate… The second half is trolling.
At least he is no longer in pain… or in movies.
RIP
Point Break, Ghost, Roadhouse and Too Wong Foo… all fine guilty pleasures. RIP Patrick.
RIP Patrick Swayze.
Vale Patrick, you entertained me, thankyou
RIP
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner”
Ghost and Point Break – two brilliant movies.
It was short Patrick, but thanks for all the work you put into the industry. You’ll be greatly missed. RIP.
He was great in Donnie Darko too
RIP Patrick
The Beast is one of the best shows on at the moment. If you haven’t seen it, i recommend you watch it.
RIP Patrick.
R.I.P. Patrick.
Without wanting to sound too insensitive, I wonder which network will make the first move in scheduling one of his movies as a tribute this weekend?
The Beast is a great return for Patrick Swayze, fantastic show just a pity it’s on one of the busiest nights of the week.
He will be missed.
Awww sad news. Wonder if Whoopid will be on the view and mention it.
R.I.P.