Rest In Peace, Mr. Swayze
Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle, with co-star Jennifer Gray
After nearly two years battling pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze lost the battle and passed away on September 14th 2009.
Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the eldest child of Patsy Yvonne Helen, a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jessie Wayne Swayze, an engineering draughtsman. He had two younger brothers, actor Don, and Sean Kyle, and two sisters, Vicky Lynn , and Bambi, who were adopted into the family.
Swayze did not become a household name until 1987, after starring in several stage and television productions, he got the part of Johnny Castle, in the classic film I'm sure you've all heard of, Dirty Dancing. It was supposed to run in theatres for only one weekend, then go straight to video, however it was an instant hit. It was the first movie to sell over one million copies on video, and has spawned several alternate versions ranging from computer games to TV shows.
After Dirty Dancing he appeared in several flops, the most successful of which was Road House, which is the story of James Dalton, a professional 'cooler' with a mysterious past.
His biggest success came in 1990 with Ghost, which he starred in alongside Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. In 1991, he was named 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People Magazine. In 2001, he had a cameo role in the Dirty Dancing sequel, 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights' as an unnamed Dance Instructor.
In late January 2008, it was announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer. At the time it was said that he was responding well to chemotherapy, and was not going to die in five weeks as some newspapers reported.
Swayze appeared on the ABC, NBC, and CBS simulcast of Stand Up To Cancer in September 2008, to appeal to the general public for donations for the initiative. Swayze said to a standing ovation "I dream that the word 'cure' will no longer be followed by the words 'it's impossible'. Together, we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse". After the show ended, Swayze remained on-stage and talked to other cancer patients; executive producer Laura Ziskin said, "He said a beautiful thing: 'I'm just an individual living with cancer'. That's how he wants to be thought of. He's in a fight, but he's a fighter."
On September 14th, the glitz and glamour of the Toronto Film Festival was darkened as the news broke that Patrick Swayze had in fact died, despite the best treatments available. Since then stars, such as William Beckett, Hayley Williams and Ricky Gervais have expressed their sympathies, and grief at the loss of such an iconic actor.
He is succeeded by his wife Lisa, whom he met at the age of eighteen, and remained married to until his death. The couple had no children.
I'm sure you all join me in sending my sympathies and best wishes to Lisa, and his family.
Rest In Peace Mr. Swayze.
