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Patrick Swayze - Source: Reuters -
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Patrick Swayze will of course always be known for his role as Johnny Castle in 1987's Dirty Dancing .
It inspired plenty of karaoke moments with such stunning songs like (I've had) The Time of My Life and Swayze's own She's Like the Wind.
However, the film might never have seen the light of day. It was intended to be a low-budget piece which would screen for just one weekend and head straight to the video store, but for Swayze's career it was like lighting a blue touch paper and he built on his debut as a dancer for Disney on Parade .
But as with any launch into stardom, Dirty Dancing would be Swayze's albatross. Typecast as the beefcake in a string of flops (remember Road House?), it took his turn in Ghost with Demi Moore to relaunch him back into the big time in 1990 and from there, he never looked back with his role in Point Break with Keanu Reeves pushing him ever on (and providing some inspiration to Nick Frost's constable in Hot Fuzz).
He even garnered a Golden Globe for his role in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and it appeared his star was back in the ascendance.
However, a fall from a horse while shooting a HBO series saw his career grounded in 1996. With two broken legs and tendon injuries in his shoulder, he had problems getting back into the limelight.
In 2001, his role as a motivational speaker and closet paedophile in Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko saw him gain plaudits within the indie acting world and he even decided on a cameo appearance in the Dirty Dancing sequel (which came 17 years after the last one), Havana Nights.
During his career, Swayze had fought publically with alcoholism and in 1994 after the death of his sister, he withdrew from showbiz to seek help.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in January 2008 and in July 2008, he was seen telling reporters he'd beaten the cancer.
That apparent victory saw him participate in a cancer telethon in America, where he urged people to donate saying he hoped the word cure would no longer feature in the sentence with the words "it's impossible".
Swayze appeared on screen in 2009 with Powder Blue; he starred as the owner of a sleazy strip joint where four characters come together under a mix of circumstances.
His last major TV appearance was as the lead in an A&E TV series, The Beast, which premiered on January 15, 2009. However, due to a prolonged decline in health, Swayze was unable to promote the series. In June this year it was reported that the show had been axed.
He leaves behind a wife Lisa Niemi who he's been married to since 1975.
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Post new commentHartyWhero said on 2009-09-15 @ 16:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
I often wondered about Patrick Swayze as we have just lost a sister to Pancreatic cancer..heaz name mentioned alot in her treatments of 6months...My heart goes out to heaz family and to all families who have also lost loved wons to cancer, as we remember and praise JAH their suffering is no longer..may he rest in peace....xOx...**best movie**ghost** cryed all the time...awesOme actor...
Hazeldragon said on 2009-09-15 @ 15:23 NZDT: Report abusive post
omg, that is soo sad. I had such a huge crush on him when i was a kid. His poor family!! At least he wont be suffering anymore i guess. R.I.P Patrick
RedLady said on 2009-09-15 @ 15:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a sad time for this once great actors family and friends. He will always be remembered through his movies....god bless.