Patrick Swayze Dies

[Darloboy]

Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into viewers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement released Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were given.

Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer.

He had kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting "The Beast," an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot. It drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.

Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance. He acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease.

When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was "considerably more optimistic" than that.

"I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."

A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad-boy Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." As the son of a choreographer who began his career in musical theater, he seemed a natural to play the role.

A coming-of-age romance starring Jennifer Grey as an idealistic young woman on vacation with her family and Swayze as the Catskills resort's sexy (and much older) dance instructor, the film made great use of both his grace on his feet and his muscular physique.

-ABC

[slain]

Rest in peace, Patrick Swayze. This has been a pretty bad year for celebrity deaths, has it not?

[Powerhart]

Yeah it has. First all the stuff that went on the internet of fake rumors of deaths and some that were real that did mark this year.

[Boulder]

Sorry to hear this. If nothing else, I would at least think Swayze inspired a lot of people with the positive attitude he kept in the face of his illness. R.I.P.

[Walker]

The man handled himself brilliant. Though I am saddened by his passing, I knew it was coming soon so I guess I should be happy that he at least died with dignity.

R.I.P.

[wolves]

Sucks to see him die at a young age. Especially to something like cancer. Will be watching Road House and Donnie Darko in tribute.

[Captain Eo]

R.I.P

This year we've lost a lot of big names, but he's probably the must human. Seeing him be optimistic through something you know you won't be able to beat is really telling of the kind of person he is.

[Lint]

I guess someone finally put Baby in the corner...

[Hellfire]

Well that sucks. Knowing that he was suffering from cancer at the time, his preformance in "The Beast" is even more impressive. I think he would have had more success with it were he able to continue shooting it. Sucks that he went so young though, 57 is way too young to pass.

[K]

Dirty Dancing in my partners favourite film ever, I've been trying to convince her to let me take her to the stage show.

[Scott McFly]

Damn I knew he was ill and doctors told him he didn't have long to live, but you don't believe it's true once a few weeks have passed. Ghost is one of my favourite films ever, will definitely watch it again now in tribute.

Thanks for the memories, Patrick. RIP.

[apsham]

I didn't even remember\know that he was sick, so I am totally and entirely bummed by this.

[darkrayne]

Sad to see the man die, RIP...

I will be watching Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing in tribute.

[METALMAN]

After hearing the news report I finally know how to pronounce his name. Silver lining folks. >_>

But yeah, that's a real shame - I didn't know a great deal about his situation myself but he gave every impression of putting up a brave and dignified fight which is very impressive indeed. It's sad for anyone to die in that way at such a young age.

[Kobra]

[METALMAN]

I sold far more copies of 'Dirty Dancing' today than any other DVD. Obviously for Patrick Swayze except from one woman who insisted she "would have bought it anyway".

[apsham]

Yeah, we've sold out of Dirty Dancing as well.. and people keep asking for Ghost as well, but we don't carry it. Bet we will next week though.. same thing that happened when Jackson died.

[LexChaney]

Best film of his has to be Point Break. I'm gonna watch that later. Love Patrick in that.

R.I.P

[GhostMachine]

Roadhouse, bitches!

That and Black Dog are probably my two favorite Patrick Swayze action movies.

[IDOL]

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