Patrick Swayze dies at 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.

The actor came forward with his illness in March 2008, but valiantly continued to work on his new television series, "The Beast."

Swayze said he did not use painkillers while making the series because he feared they would weaken his edgy performance as FBI agent who may be on the wrong side of the law.

Swayze rose to fame during the 1980s by appearing in a number of iconic films: Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders," the ultra-violent Cold War saga "Red Dawn" and "Road House."

But it was his role of bad-boy Johnny Castle in the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing" that forever cemented Swayze as a heartthrob leading man.

The coming-of-age romance co-starring Jennifer Grey, made great use of Swayze's graceful dancing and muscular physique.

The film, which continues to have a place in teenage girls' hearts, was a hit in the summer of 1987 and spawned the Oscar-winning "(I've Had) the Time of my Life" hit song.

The film has since been turned into numerous stage productions and had a 2004 sequel in which Swayze had a cameo.

If "Dancing" won over the hearts of millions, the 1990 film "Ghost" broke them.

Starring Swayze as a murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancée (a then-unknown Demi Moore) through a psychic (Whoopi Goldberg), the film was a massive box office success, taking in more than $215 million.

It was also a critical success and was nominated for the Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and won two Oscars.

At the time, Swayze said he worked hard for the role.

"It made me cry four or five times," he told the Associated Press of the script.

In 1991 he appeared on the cover of People magazine as the "Sexiest Man Alive" but his career dwindled in the 1990s.

While he starred in the well-received "Point Break," other films such as "Tall Tale" and "Three Wishes" fizzled.

By the end of the 90s, he went into rehab for alcohol abuse.

His career picked back up in the early 2000s, when he played against typecast as a closeted pedophile in the 2001 cult classic "Donnie Darko."

He also returned to the stage, playing in "Chicago" in New York and later in "Guys and Dolls" in London.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/ho...wsitemid=CTVNews/20090914/swayze_death_090914

 

Thats sad, I loved his role in the Outsiders

 

It's what he wanted.

 

Damn, that's sad.

 

Man, the outsiders was such a great book, and movie.
Its sad to see him, and himself as character die.
RIP

 

NOOO! I loved ghost!

 

Didn't see ghost or any of his movies. (I don't watch much movies in general) but anyways its sad, I just don't personally know him or care but many others do.

 

Dude, everyone watches ghost...

 

Umm, obviously I didn't.

 

Ghost was an epic movie, lol.

 

Ghost was like one of the best movies of the 90s. I remember seeing it. Whoopi does awesome, lmao. I actually thought it was a good movie. Rip.

 

Man... I loved his movies.. They said he was reacting good to treatment tho?

 

Heard this on the radio this morning. Sad that he was so young really but he hasnt been too well for a while I guess

 

Now who's gonna stop Baby from being put in a corner?

 

I see what you did there, dirty dancing xD

 

I wonder if he was going to have a role in the new Donnie Darko that's coming out

 

Can anybody tell me with he is though? Never actually heard his name before.

 

Read the first post? Might wanna give credits to Phil for that pic since you stole it off his website .

 

It's so sad. He fought so hard, man. I can't believe it. Rest in peace, Patrick. Your legacy will always live on.

 

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


RIP Patrick Swayze