Patrick Swayze

Short Biography

Patrick Wayne Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. Having gained fame with appearances in films during the 1980s, Swayze became popular for playing tough guys and romantic lead males, gaining him a wide fan base with female audiences, and status as a teen idol and sex symbol. He starred in films from a range of genres, including the drama The Outsiders (1983), the war film Red Dawn (1984), the romantic "coming-of-age" drama Dirty Dancing (1987), the action film Road House (1989), the romantic fantasy/crime thriller Ghost (1990), the action crime film Point Break (1991), the comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), the action film Black Dog (1998), the supernatural drama film Donnie Darko (2001), and the drama Jump! (2008), as well as in the television serials North and South and The Beast, his final role. During his career he received over 3 Golden Globe Award nominations and was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991. He died, with family at his side, at around 12 midnight on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57, in his last residential home in Los Angeles, California, just about one year and 3 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His body was cremated, and his ashes scattered over his New Mexico ranch. He was survived by wife Lisa Niemi, mother Patsy Swayze, and three siblings.