Patrick Swayze is dead

Posted on September 15, 2009
Filed Under Actors, Actresses, Awards, TV show

Patrick Swayze died in Los Angeles on Monday after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57. Swayze most recently starred as a tough FBI agent in A&E drama series “The Beast.” His battle with cancer played out publicly as his condition worsened just as the show’s first season bowed on the cabler.

Swayze was raised in Houston, Texas, and his mother was a choreographer and ballet school owner. He trained with the Harkness Ballet and Joffrey Ballet schools in New York, starting his career dancing for “Disney on Parade.” After appearing in “Grease” on Broadway, he made his film debut in “Skatetown, U.S.A” (1979).

He was cast in several youth-appeal pics, including “The Outsiders” and the brilliant “Red Dawn,” before netting a major role in Civil War miniseries “North and South” in 1985. His popularity rose with the dance instructor role opposite actress Jennifer Grey in 1987′s “Dirty Dancing,” which became a surprise hit. He received a Golden Globe nomination for the performance and sang one of the songs on the soundtrack. After several minor films, his career picked up with “Road House” and then the modern classic “Ghost,” in 1990, where his character romantically haunted Demi Moore after he was murdered.

He married Lisa Niemi, one of his mother’s dance students, in 1975. He is survived by his wife, brother, and his mother.

Sad news for all movie lovers out there. We all knew it was coming but still… He will be missed.

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