Patrick Swayze was an American actor, singer, dancer, and songwriter who rose to fame with his roles in films such as Dirty Dancing, Ghost, and Point Break. He was also a sex symbol and a humanitarian who supported various causes. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2009 at the age of 57. Here are some facts about his life and career.
Death
Patrick Swayze died on September 14, 2009, at his home in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by his family. He had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in January 2008 and underwent chemotherapy and other treatments. He continued to work on his projects, such as the TV series The Beast, until his health deteriorated. He also wrote a memoir with his wife, Lisa Niemi, titled The Time of My Life, which was published posthumously. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over his ranch in New Mexico.
Wife
Patrick Swayze was married to Lisa Niemi, an actress, dancer, director, and writer, from 1975 until his death. They met when she was 15 and he was 19 at his mother’s dance studio in Houston, Texas. They had a long and loving relationship, despite some challenges, such as his alcoholism and infidelity. They had no children, but they had several pets, including dogs, horses, and cats. They also co-starred in several films, such as Steel Dawn, Next of Kin, and One Last Dance. After his death, she wrote a book about their marriage, titled Worth Fighting For, and remarried to Albert DePrisco, a jeweler, in 2014.
Ghost
Ghost is one of the most popular and successful films of Patrick Swayze’s career. It is a 1990 romantic fantasy thriller film, directed by Jerry Zucker and co-starring Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tony Goldwyn. It tells the story of Sam Wheat (Swayze), a banker who is murdered by his friend and colleague Carl Bruner (Goldwyn) over a money-laundering scheme. Sam’s spirit remains on Earth, and he tries to protect his girlfriend Molly Jensen (Moore) from Carl’s threats with the help of a psychic named Oda Mae Brown (Goldberg). The film was a huge hit, grossing over $505 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1990. It also received critical acclaim and won two Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actress (Goldberg) and Best Original Screenplay. It also featured the iconic scene of Sam and Molly making pottery while the song “Unchained Melody” played in the background.
Net Worth
Patrick Swayze had an estimated net worth of $40 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He earned his wealth from his acting, singing, dancing, and writing career, as well as from his endorsements and investments. He starred in over 30 films and several TV shows and also recorded and co-wrote songs for some of his films, such as “She’s Like the Wind” for Dirty Dancing, which became a top-10 hit. He also owned several properties, such as a ranch in New Mexico, a home in Los Angeles, and a farm in Illinois.
Biography
Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, in Houston, Texas, to Patsy Swayze, a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor, and Jesse Swayze, an engineering draftsman. He had four siblings: Vickie, Don, Sean, and Bambi. He grew up in a Catholic family and attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School, Black Middle School, and Waltrip High School. He also studied at San Jacinto College Central, where he majored in gymnastics. He developed an interest in dancing, acting, and martial arts at a young age and learned from his mother and other teachers. He moved to New York City in 1972 to pursue his dance career and joined the Harkness Ballet and Joffrey Ballet companies. He also performed in Broadway shows such as Grease and Chicago.
He made his film debut in 1979 with Skatetown, U.S.A., and then appeared in The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Youngblood in the early 1980s. He achieved his breakthrough in 1987 with Dirty Dancing, a romantic drama film directed by Emile Ardolino and co-starring Jennifer Grey. He played Johnny Castle, a dance instructor at a resort who falls in love with a guest, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Grey). The film was a sleeper hit, grossing over $214 million worldwide and becoming a cult classic. It also won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for its soundtrack, which featured the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, which Swayze also performed. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical for his role.
He continued to star in films such as Road House, Next of Kin, Ghost, Point Break, City of Joy, Father Hood, Tall Tale, To Wong Foo, and Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Three Wishes, Black Dog, Donnie Darko, Waking Up in Reno, 11:14, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Keeping Mum, Jump!, Powder Blue, and The Beast He also appeared in TV shows such as North and South, Saturday Night Live, The Renegades, King Solomon’s Mines, MAS*H, The Comeback Kid, Amazing Stories, Icon, Christmas in Wonderland, and The Beast. He also wrote, produced, and directed some of his projects, such as One Last Dance, Without a Word, and The Beast.
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is the film that made Patrick Swayze a star and a sex symbol. It is a 1987 romantic drama film, directed by Emile Ardolino and co-starring Jennifer Grey. It tells the story of Johnny Castle (Swayze), a dance instructor at a resort, who falls in love with a guest, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Grey), who is the daughter of a doctor. The film is set in the summer of 1963 and features themes of social class, abortion, and sexual awakening. The film was a sleeper hit, grossing over $214 million worldwide and becoming a cult classic. It also won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for its soundtrack, which featured the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, which Swayze also performed. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical for his role. The film also spawned a prequel, a sequel, a remake, a TV series, a stage musical, and a video game.
Height
Patrick Swayze was 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 170 lbs (77 kg) before his death. He had a muscular and athletic physique, which he maintained with regular exercise and a healthy diet. He also had dark brown hair and light brown eyes. He was known for his handsome and charming appearance and was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1991.
