Patrick Swayze

Patrick Wayne Swayze (SWAY-zee; August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, singer-songwriter and dancer. Known for his romantic, tough, and comedic roles in blockbusters and cult films, Swayze was nominated for three Golden Globes and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

Swayze received recognition for acting in the drama film The Outsiders (1983), the action film Red Dawn (1984), and the miniseries North and South (1985–1986). His breakthrough came with the romantic drama film Dirty Dancing (1987), receiving a Golden Globe nomination. He rose to further prominence in the action films Road House (1989) and Point Break (1991), and received two more Golden Globe nominations for his roles in the supernatural romance film Ghost (1990) and the road comedy film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). He also had a major role in the cult thriller Donnie Darko (2001).

Outside of acting, Swayze co-wrote and recorded the song “She's Like the Wind” with Stacy Widelitz for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. He was also recognized for his public image and looks, and was named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1991. In 2009, Swayze died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57.

Death

On March 5, 2008, a Reuters article stated that Swayze's disease was limited in extent and that he appeared to be responding well to treatment. His doctor confirmed the pancreatic cancer diagnosis but emphasized that Swayze was not as close to death as some reports had claimed. Despite repeated tabloid stories predicting his imminent death, Swayze continued to work. In early May 2008, several tabloids reported that he had undergone surgery to remove part of his stomach after the cancer had spread, and that he had rewritten his will to transfer his property to his wife. He made his first public appearance since his diagnosis at a Los Angeles Lakers game in late May. On May 28, Swayze said he was continuing to respond well to treatment at Stanford. In June 2008, he stated that his treatments were working and that he was beating the cancer.