Patrick Swayze was an American actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter born on 18 August 1952 and died on 14 September 2009. He played a lot of lead roles in movies, especially ones where he was romantic, tough, or funny. People magazine even said he was the Sexiest Man Alive in 1991.
He was nominated three times for a Golden Globe Award for his lead roles in movies like Dirty Dancing, Ghost, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. He also acted in action movies like Road House and Point Break. He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.
Swayze wrote and sang the song She’s Like the Wind and got an award for dancing after he passed away in 2009 from pancreatic cancer when he was 57.
| Full Name | Patrick Swayze |
| Date of Birth | 18 August 1952 |
| Died | 14 September 2009 |
| Place of Birth | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, Dancer, Singer |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Spouse | Lisa Niemi (1975-2009) |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $40 Million |
Patrick Swayze’s Early Life and Education
Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, in Houston, Texas. His parents were Patsy Swayze, who was a dancer and dance teacher, and Jesse Wayne Swayze, who worked as an engineering draftsman. He had siblings: an older sister named Vickie, two younger brothers named Don and Sean, and a younger adopted sister named Bambi.
Patrick Swayze’s family history is traced back to an Englishman named John Swasey who came to America during the Puritan migration in the early 1600s. He settled in Massachusetts and had many descendants, with one of them eventually changing the family name to Swayze.
He grew up in Houston and attended several schools there, including St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School, Black Middle School, Waltrip High School, and San Jacinto College Central. He was involved in various activities like ice skating, ballet, acting in school plays, and even football until a knee injury stopped him. He also trained in martial arts like Wushu, Taekwondo, and Aikido, which helped him manage his emotions.
In 1972, he moved to New York City to continue his dance training at the Harkness Ballet and Joffrey Ballet schools. There, he had plans to work on a ballet with famous dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, but unfortunately, his knee injury got in the way.
Career
Patrick Swayze first wowed audiences as a dancer with Disney Theatrical Group’s Disney on Parade. He later took on the iconic role of Danny Zuko in a replacement cast of Broadway’s Grease. Swayze’s film debut came in 1979 with Skatetown U.S.A. where he played Ace. Amid the disco craze, he starred in a Pabst Blue Ribbon commercial featuring a disco-themed nightclub date.
In 1981, Patrick Swayze appeared in the MASH* episode “Blood Brothers” as Private Sturgis a soldier found to have leukemia. That year he also starred in the TV movie Return of the Rebels with Barbara Eden. In 1983 he played a gang leader in the short-lived series The Renegades and gained further recognition in The Outsiders alongside C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe. He then joined Gene Hackman in the Vietnam rescue film Uncommon Valor and reunited with Howell and Jennifer Grey in Red Dawn.
Swayze’s breakout came with the 1985 miniseries North and South set during the Civil War. His real claim to fame arrived in 1987 with Dirty Dancing where he played Johnny Castle a resort dance instructor. His dance and acting skills along with his song “She’s Like the Wind” co-written with Stacy Widelitz made Dirty Dancing a global hit. The film was the first to sell over a million video copies and earned over $214 million worldwide leading to various spin-offs and a Golden Globe nomination for Swayze.
Patrick Swayze’s next major hit was Ghost a supernatural romance where he played Sam Wheat opposite Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. Ghost became 1990’s highest-grossing film and earned Swayze another Golden Globe nomination. The pottery scene with Moore became iconic and Swayze played a key role in casting Goldberg who later won an Oscar for her performance.
In 1991, he starred with Keanu Reeves in the action-packed Point Break. That same year People magazine named him “Sexiest Man Alive.”
Swayze earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997. That year while filming HBO’s Letters from a Killer he suffered severe injuries from a horse-riding accident but returned to acting in 2000’s Forever Lulu with Melanie Griffith.
In 1995, Patrick Swayze took on a surprising role in “To Wong Foo’s Thanks for Everything!” Julie Newmar plays a drag queen alongside Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo stranded in a small town during a cross-country trip.
In 2001, Patrick Swayze appeared in the movie “Donnie Darko” as a speaker who turns out to be hiding a dark secret. The film gained a strong following later on. He then starred with Billy Bob Thornton and Charlize Theron in “Waking Up in Reno” in 2002, about two couples from Little Rock driving to Reno for a monster truck show.
In 2004, Swayze played Allan Quatermain in King Solomon’s “Mines” and had a small role as a dance instructor in “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.”
In 2003, Patrick Swayze co-produced and starred in “One Last Dance” a fictional movie about a real dance performance called “Without a Word.” His wife Lisa Niemi also starred in the film and they worked on the music together.
Swayze debuted in London’s West End in Guys and Dolls in 2006 playing Nathan Detroit. He had earlier appeared on Broadway in Goodtime Charley and Chicago (as Billy Flynn).
He also voiced Cash the dog in The Fox and the Hound 2 and starred in “Christmas in Wonderland.” In 2009, he played an aging rock star in Powder Blue alongside his brother Don.
In his last major role, Patrick Swayze starred as FBI agent Charles Barker in the TV show “The Beast” filmed in Chicago. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after filming began but continued working on the show during treatment. The Beast premiered in January 2009 and ran for one season.
Net Worth
Patrick Swayze had an estimated net worth of $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Patrick Swayze’s net worth came from his successful career as an actor. He starred in several hit movies like “Dirty Dancing,” “Ghost,” and “Point Break,” which were box office successes. These roles not only showcased his talent but also earned him substantial earnings from both acting fees and a share of the movie profits.
Additionally, Swayze was involved in other ventures like television appearances and endorsements, further contributing to his overall wealth. His enduring popularity and iconic status in Hollywood ensured a steady income throughout his career.
Personal Life
Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi were married for 34 years, from June 12, 1975, until his passing. They didn’t have children, but Lisa had experienced a miscarriage. They first met when Swayze was 18 and Lisa was 14, as she was taking dance lessons from Swayze’s mom. In a 2008 interview, Swayze revealed that Lisa was the inspiration behind his song “She’s Like the Wind” from 1987.
In 1989, Swayze talked about his search for meaning and his exploration of different belief systems, including Soka Gakkai Buddhism. He expressed respect for other faiths and beliefs and how important it was for him to understand and appreciate them.
Patrick Swayze also openly discussed his struggle with alcoholism, which began after his father’s death. He entered rehab in the 1990s and took a break from acting to focus on his recovery and his passion for breeding Arabian horses on his ranches in California and New Mexico.
As a licensed pilot, Swayze had an incident in 2000 while flying from California to New Mexico when his plane had a pressurization problem. Despite rumors of intoxication, it was later determined that his impairment was due to other factors like carbon monoxide exposure.
In 2006, Swayze and Niemi had another scare while flying together, experiencing engine failure. Niemi skillfully landed the plane, prompting them to switch to a different aircraft for safety reasons.
Death
In late December 2007, right after filming the first episode of The Beast, Patrick Swayze started feeling a burning sensation in his stomach. Doctors found a blockage in his bile ducts, and in mid-January 2008, they diagnosed him with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He went to Stanford University Medical Center for treatment, including chemotherapy and an experimental drug called vatalanib, which was supposed to stop the tumor from getting blood.
By March 5, 2008, news came out that Swayze was responding well to treatment, despite having pancreatic cancer. Even though some rumors said he was close to dying, he kept on working.
In early May 2008, there were reports that Swayze had surgery to remove part of his stomach because the cancer had spread. He also updated his will around this time. But in a statement on May 28, he said he was still doing well with his treatment. Later that month, he showed up at a basketball game, his first public appearance since getting diagnosed. He even said in June 2008 that his treatments were working and he was winning the fight against cancer.
Patrick Swayze appeared on a TV event called Stand Up to Cancer in September 2008 to ask for donations for cancer research. He talked about his hope for a world where cancer didn’t mean living in fear. Even after the show, he talked to other cancer patients and showed his fighting spirit.
On December 2, 2008, Patrick Swayze denied rumors that the cancer had spread to his liver. But in an interview with Barbara Walters in January 2009, he admitted there was a small mass in his liver. He wanted people to know he was fighting hard against the disease. He also mentioned using some Chinese herbs but didn’t believe in alternative therapies without scientific proof.
In January 2009, he was hospitalized with pneumonia, a complication of his cancer treatment. He was released later that month to rest at home. But in April 2009, doctors found out the cancer had spread to his liver again. Swayze, who had been a heavy smoker for 40 years, admitted that smoking might have contributed to his illness. He continued to smoke during his cancer treatment.
Patrick Swayze passed away on September 14, 2009, with his family by his side. He was 57. His publicist confirmed that he died from pancreatic cancer. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over his New Mexico ranch.
