| Patrick Swayze (August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009) was an American actor, dancer and songwriter – singer, best known for his roles in the films “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Ghost” (1990). In 1991, the American magazine “People” voted him as the“Sexiest Man” of the year.
Biography:
Patrick Wayne Swayze was born in Houston on August 18, 1952. His mother was a choreographer and it is no wonder that since his childhood he had shown a keen interest in dance and as a result, Patrick Swayze received dance training from the “Harkness Ballet” and “Joffrey” ballet schools.
In 1979, he made his debut in the film “Skatetown, USA”. Having left professional ballet owing to an old football injury, he nevertheless became a leading dancer of the prestigious troupe the “Elliot Feld Dance Company”. Simultaneously, Swayze pursued his acting skills. In 1984, he acted in an anti-Soviet film “Red Dawn”.
In 1990, having portrayed the leading role in the film “Ghost” with a star cast including Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Swayze became one of the most popular Hollywood actors. But none of his subsequent films could eclipse or repeat the success of those first movies.
Besides being an actor, Patrick Swayze was also a songwriter and singer.
With the consent of Patrick Swayze, the doctor attending him informed the press on March 5, 2008 that the actor was suffering from pancreas cancer and “any other statements predicting the remaining life and physical condition of Swayze was an absolute untruth. We consider that his condition is substantially better”. The next day the “National Enquirer” published its own investigation, asserting that the condition of Swayze was worse than the official statement and counted the life he had left in weeks.
In June, 2008, Patrick Swayze stated that “thanks to treatment, the tumor growth is controlled”.
At the end of 2008, Swayze said that he will be fortunate if he manages to live five more years. Information spread in January that the actor is planning to pen his memoirs in co-authorship with his spouse.
On January 9, 2009, Patrick Swayze was hospitalized with “pneumonia”. Swayze was discharged from the hospital on January 16, 2009. On April 19, doctors informed Swayze that the metastasises had entered into his liver. Patrick Swayze died on September 14, 2009.
“A rare combination of rough manliness and amazing subtlety was noticed in Patrick Swayze. He was beautiful and strong, a real cowboy with a gentle heart” – stated actress Jennifer Grey, who was the costar of Patrick in the film “Dirty Dancing”. “He was fearless and always insisted on doing all his stunts independently. It is no wonder that he so courageously and deservingly fought the cancer” - stated the actress. |
Patrick Swayze, the actor and classically trained dancer whose role in the enduringly popular "Dirty Dancing" made him a movie star, one who struggled with the alienation of fame and against being typecast as a leading man, died Monday. He was 57. America loved Patrick from his breakout role in the inaugural Brat Pack movie, "The Outsiders," to the badassery of "Road House" to "Point Break," and to his latest roles. Swayze was always a fighter. He lost his last battle surrounded by his family and friends. R.I.P. Patrick, you will be missed.
To pay a tribute to the legendary actor, Photoshop Patrick Swayze any way you wish. E.g. think of what movies he could have played in, what things he could have accomplished outside of Hollywood. He was a man of many talents and died too young.
