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| Obituary: Patrick Swayze | Obituary: Patrick Swayze |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Swayze was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role of dance instructor Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing | Swayze was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role of dance instructor Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing |
| Patrick Swayze will forever be remembered as the snake-hipped Johnny Castle in 1987's Dirty Dancing, a role which cemented his status as the romantic lead of the 90s. | Patrick Swayze will forever be remembered as the snake-hipped Johnny Castle in 1987's Dirty Dancing, a role which cemented his status as the romantic lead of the 90s. |
| Surprisingly, the trained dancer was not the first choice for the role but his performance earned him award nominations and a place on bedroom walls of lovelorn teenage girls around the world. | Surprisingly, the trained dancer was not the first choice for the role but his performance earned him award nominations and a place on bedroom walls of lovelorn teenage girls around the world. |
| Privately, the 57-year-old shied away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, preferring the quiet life on his Californian ranch with Lisa, his wife of 34 years. | Privately, the 57-year-old shied away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, preferring the quiet life on his Californian ranch with Lisa, his wife of 34 years. |
| The attitude extended to his professional work. The actor always rejected the notion of himself as the sexy lead. He once said: "It's the cult movies that have given me a career for 30 years. | The attitude extended to his professional work. The actor always rejected the notion of himself as the sexy lead. He once said: "It's the cult movies that have given me a career for 30 years. |
| "It wouldn't have been worth it if I had been stuck as the leading man or the dance guy." | "It wouldn't have been worth it if I had been stuck as the leading man or the dance guy." |
| Dance training | Dance training |
| Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on 18 August, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the son of a choreographer and dance instructor and an engineer. | Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on 18 August, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the son of a choreographer and dance instructor and an engineer. |
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| Patrick Swayze speaking in 2006: "I'm torn between guy movies and heart movies" | |
| A natural athlete, the youngster pursued ice skating, classical ballet and acting. | A natural athlete, the youngster pursued ice skating, classical ballet and acting. |
| Swayze studied gymnastics for two years and in 1972 moved to New York to complete his dance training at the Harkness and Joffrey ballet schools. | Swayze studied gymnastics for two years and in 1972 moved to New York to complete his dance training at the Harkness and Joffrey ballet schools. |
| He started dancing professionally with Disney on Parade, where he played Prince Charming before appearing in the Broadway production of the musical Grease. | He started dancing professionally with Disney on Parade, where he played Prince Charming before appearing in the Broadway production of the musical Grease. |
| In 1979, the 27-year-old got his first role as Ace Johnson in the forgettable roller-skating movie Skatetown USA, a film which capitalised on the new mania for roller disco. | In 1979, the 27-year-old got his first role as Ace Johnson in the forgettable roller-skating movie Skatetown USA, a film which capitalised on the new mania for roller disco. |
| Swayze's big break, however, came at 31 alongside Rob Lowe and C Thomas Howell in The Outsiders. | Swayze's big break, however, came at 31 alongside Rob Lowe and C Thomas Howell in The Outsiders. |
| The 1983 drama, which also starred then-newcomers Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez and Matt Dillon, gave birth to Hollywood's Brat Pack. | The 1983 drama, which also starred then-newcomers Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez and Matt Dillon, gave birth to Hollywood's Brat Pack. |
| His TV breakthrough came in the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated American civil war mini-series North and South. | His TV breakthrough came in the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated American civil war mini-series North and South. |
| Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi were married for 34 years | Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi were married for 34 years |
| Swayze played the son of a slave owning family from South Carolina who struck up an enduring friendship with a northerner. | Swayze played the son of a slave owning family from South Carolina who struck up an enduring friendship with a northerner. |
| The first two series followed the progress of the characters who, as war approached, found themselves on opposing sides. | The first two series followed the progress of the characters who, as war approached, found themselves on opposing sides. |
| North and South was well received by critics and public alike and became one of the most successful TV mini-series of all time. | North and South was well received by critics and public alike and became one of the most successful TV mini-series of all time. |
| Global stardom | Global stardom |
| In 1987, came the role that defined Swayze's career as the bad-boy dance instructor with a heart of gold in Dirty Dancing. | In 1987, came the role that defined Swayze's career as the bad-boy dance instructor with a heart of gold in Dirty Dancing. |
| With dance scenes making up more than a third of the film, it was an ideal vehicle for Swayze's talents. | With dance scenes making up more than a third of the film, it was an ideal vehicle for Swayze's talents. |
| The low-budget project was intended for a brief cinema run before going straight to video. Instead, it catapulted Swayze to stardom. | The low-budget project was intended for a brief cinema run before going straight to video. Instead, it catapulted Swayze to stardom. |
| It was the first film to sell one million copies on video, and as of 2007, has earned over $300m (£180m) worldwide. | It was the first film to sell one million copies on video, and as of 2007, has earned over $300m (£180m) worldwide. |
| Swayze was rewarded with a Golden Globe nomination and sang one of the songs on the soundtrack, She's Like the Wind, which gave him a number 3 hit on the US Billboard chart. | Swayze was rewarded with a Golden Globe nomination and sang one of the songs on the soundtrack, She's Like the Wind, which gave him a number 3 hit on the US Billboard chart. |
| Sexiest Man Alive | Sexiest Man Alive |
| But the movie's success and his new heart-throb status didn't sit well with Swayze, who found himself typecast in a string of run-of-the-mill action films. | But the movie's success and his new heart-throb status didn't sit well with Swayze, who found himself typecast in a string of run-of-the-mill action films. |
| Two movies in 1989, Next of Kin and Roadhouse pitched him head-to-head with himself in the worst actor category at the Razzies. | Two movies in 1989, Next of Kin and Roadhouse pitched him head-to-head with himself in the worst actor category at the Razzies. |
| A scene from Ghost was voted one of the top love scenes of all time | A scene from Ghost was voted one of the top love scenes of all time |
| But in 1990, Swayze again found his form at the box-office, starring opposite Demi Moore in the smash hit Ghost. | But in 1990, Swayze again found his form at the box-office, starring opposite Demi Moore in the smash hit Ghost. |
| The role, of a man who comes back from the dead to protect his girlfriend and avenge his own murder, was turned down by several of Hollywood's A-list including Tom Hanks, Paul Hogan and Moore's then husband, Bruce Willis. | The role, of a man who comes back from the dead to protect his girlfriend and avenge his own murder, was turned down by several of Hollywood's A-list including Tom Hanks, Paul Hogan and Moore's then husband, Bruce Willis. |
| Ghost made over $500m (£301m) and was nominated for several Academy Awards, winning two including a best supporting actress for Whoopi Goldberg. | Ghost made over $500m (£301m) and was nominated for several Academy Awards, winning two including a best supporting actress for Whoopi Goldberg. |
| Swayze followed it with Point Break, a white knuckle action movie about thrill-seeking surfers turned bank robbers. The film earned Swayze People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive title. | Swayze followed it with Point Break, a white knuckle action movie about thrill-seeking surfers turned bank robbers. The film earned Swayze People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive title. |
| The actor's career never reached the same heights again, although he went on to make a number of film and TV appearances. | The actor's career never reached the same heights again, although he went on to make a number of film and TV appearances. |
| Swayze poked fun at his "sexy man" tag by playing transvestite Vida Boheme alongside action star Wesley Snipes in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. | Swayze poked fun at his "sexy man" tag by playing transvestite Vida Boheme alongside action star Wesley Snipes in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. |
| He was seriously injured in 1996 when he fell from a horse and hit a tree while filming a TV series. | He was seriously injured in 1996 when he fell from a horse and hit a tree while filming a TV series. |
| Both of his legs were broken and he damaged his shoulder. Though Swayze eventually recovered from his injuries, a long battle with alcoholism further stalled his career. | Both of his legs were broken and he damaged his shoulder. Though Swayze eventually recovered from his injuries, a long battle with alcoholism further stalled his career. |
| Stage to screen | Stage to screen |
| In 2001, Swayze hit the headlines after crash landing a plane he himself was piloting. He was unharmed in the accident. | In 2001, Swayze hit the headlines after crash landing a plane he himself was piloting. He was unharmed in the accident. |
| An all too brief but acclaimed performance as a self-help guru and closet paedophile in the cult movie Donnie Darko was followed by a cameo appearance in Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights, a poorly-received sequel to the original film. | An all too brief but acclaimed performance as a self-help guru and closet paedophile in the cult movie Donnie Darko was followed by a cameo appearance in Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights, a poorly-received sequel to the original film. |
| In 2006, Swayze moved to London to make his West End stage debut in the four-month run of the musical Guys and Dolls. | In 2006, Swayze moved to London to make his West End stage debut in the four-month run of the musical Guys and Dolls. |
| Swayze's role as a grizzled FBI agent has won rave reviews | Swayze's role as a grizzled FBI agent has won rave reviews |
| In early 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the following weeks and months of press speculation about the extent of his disease, prompted the actor to release a statement claiming he was responding well to treatment. | In early 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the following weeks and months of press speculation about the extent of his disease, prompted the actor to release a statement claiming he was responding well to treatment. |
| Living on a ranch in California, Swayze talked about the importance of his health. | Living on a ranch in California, Swayze talked about the importance of his health. |
| He said: "I live to keep fit. I don't have any option. I have to flank cattle every day of my life, and train horses, ride fences and dance with my wife." | He said: "I live to keep fit. I don't have any option. I have to flank cattle every day of my life, and train horses, ride fences and dance with my wife." |
| He returned to work, playing veteran FBI agent Charles Barker in The Beast. Swayze's performance was praised by critics as "one of the performances of his career". | He returned to work, playing veteran FBI agent Charles Barker in The Beast. Swayze's performance was praised by critics as "one of the performances of his career". |
| In early 2009, Swayze was admitted to hospital and treated for pneumonia. He was released after a few days and insisted he was fighting his cancer as best he could. | In early 2009, Swayze was admitted to hospital and treated for pneumonia. He was released after a few days and insisted he was fighting his cancer as best he could. |
| In May, his publicist criticised "reckless" reports that the actor was already dead. | In May, his publicist criticised "reckless" reports that the actor was already dead. |