Wilco75 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 LOS ANGELES – Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into viewers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday 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 Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. 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 ABC'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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Damn - not suprising, but damn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Pancreatic cancer...a most horrible way to die. I've lost a couple of frienda snd acquaintances to this terrible disease. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tugmoose Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I think he would have this. RIP (Jim Carroll and Patrick Swayze - an unlikely pair.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hats off to Mr. Swayze. The Outsiders (1983) Grandview U.S.A. (1984)Steel Dawn (1987) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 He was unique. Who else could have sold Roadhouse?Let's not forget his best work, as the creepy motivational speaker in Donnie Darko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Man RIP! My grandfather died of the same cause so I know it is not pleasant. I did have the honor of meeting Patrick back about 10 years ago and he was very friendly and an all around nice guy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst. That's how my sister-in-law's dad went. Never a big fan of his movies (Red Dawn is a guilty pleasure), but I will remember him fondly from the Chris Farley Chippendales skit on SNL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 R.I.P. I'm not a big fan of Swayze because my mom was a big fan of his and I'm not a big fan of her (so I can't really like anything she likes on principle.) However, he does seem to have been a thoroughly decent guy, down to earth and all. So bless him and his loved ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I saw Dirty Dancing 2 times the week it came out -- with my mom both times He was a heart-throb in the best sense of the word. RIP and the best to his family. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I saw Dirty Dancing 2 times the week it came out -- with my mom both times He was a heart-throb in the best sense of the word. RIP and the best to his family. I saw it as a sophomore in high school, after getting drunk behind the mall that housed our local movie theater, and though I would never admit it to my friends, by then end, I had tears in my eyes. And goddamit, I’m (almost) not ashamed to admit it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Runaway Jim Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 For Red Dawn alone, the man's worth mourning. RIP. Oh, and Point Break. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I have never watched "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything" without laughing my ass off. I will miss him greatly, but thankfully what made him great will still be here for us to enjoy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 This is all sort of a freak-out...both Swayze and Jim Carroll are my age approximately. What a major bummer. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 This is all sort of a freak-out...both Swayze and Jim Carroll are my age approximately. What a major bummer. LouieB Swayze suffered from bouts of heavy, alcoholic drinking for about twenty years, and to my knowledge that can contribute to pancreatic cancer. But I hear you still - my dad is likely eating lots of leafy greens and lean meats today in light of the news... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Swayze suffered from bouts of heavy, alcoholic drinking for about twenty years, and to my knowledge that can contribute to pancreatic cancer. But I hear you still - my dad is likely eating lots of leafy greens and lean meats today in light of the news...Well yes, both men had early lives that included heavy substance abuse, but still....life is only so long. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Jesus. How could I foget Ghost? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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