We’ve known since 2008 that Patrick Swayze has been ill with cancer. He claimed that he was beating it but tragically it has now got the better of him and he passed away yesterday. With the world giving tribute, Swayze’s last ever interview was viewed by millions around the globe.
I thought it would be nice to give you a brief Patrick Swayze biography. He wasn’t the best actor in the world but you get the impression he was a good guy and deserves a bit of a tribute.
Patric Swayze was born in Houston, Texas in 1952. His mother was Patrica Helen and was a dance instructor. Until the age of twenty he lived in Houston and attended all sorts of arts classes; ballet, ice skating, drama lessons and athletics.
In 1972 saw him move to New York to finalise his dance training. His first appearance as a professional was playing ‘Danny Zuko’ from ‘Grease’ in Disney on Parade.
Hi first feature film “Skatetown USA” before moving into TV programmes such as M*A*S*H and The Renegades.
The sort of films that were never going to make it into any film festival guide but entertaining all the same.
In 1987 came a major breakthrough with Dirty Dancing the movie.
Many of you women will have had and may still have Patrick Swayze posters on your wall after the release of his most successful film ‘Dirty Dancing’. Which became so popular it was turned into Dirty Dancing The Musical.
After that film he became very typecast and starred in a string of turkeys. Later starring in ‘Road House’, a very average film. Then came ‘Ghost’ the biggest success of his career in which he starred with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.
His only major success in films was ‘Point Break’ in which he starred with Keanu Reeves as the surfing bank robber. In the same year, 1991 he was voted the years “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine.
In 2001 he starred in the cult classic Donnie Darko. By 2006 he had decided to try his hand at theatre and starred in ‘Guys and Dolls’
Patrick underwent chemotherapy for the last year and a half of his life and sadly died with his family at his side at age 57 yesterday.
