Patrick Swayze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick Swayze
Swayze in 1990
Born	Patrick Wayne Swayze (1952-08-18)August 18, 1952 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2009(2009-09-14) (aged 57) Los Angeles, California U.S.
Occupation	Actor dancer singer choreographer
Years active	1976–2009
Spouse(s)	Lisa Niemi ​ (m. 1975)​
Parent(s)	Patsy Swayze (mother)
Relatives	Don Swayze (brother)

Patrick Wayne Swayze (born August 18, 1952 – died September 14, 2009) was a famous American actor, dancer, and singer. He was known for playing many different types of characters, especially in romantic movies, action films, and comedies.

Patrick Swayze was nominated three times for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Movie. These nominations were for his roles in the romantic film Dirty Dancing (1987), the thriller Ghost (1990), and the comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). He also starred in popular action movies like Road House (1989) and Point Break (1991). In 1997, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Swayze also helped write and sang the popular song "She's Like the Wind". After he passed away, he was given the Rolex Dance Award in 2012. Patrick Swayze died in 2009 at age 57 from pancreatic cancer.

Early Life and Dance Training

Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, in Houston, Texas. He was the second child of Patsy Swayze, who was a dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher, and Jesse Wayne Swayze. Patrick had an older sister, Vickie, two younger brothers, Don and Sean, and a younger sister, Bambi. His family had roots in England, with ancestors arriving in America in the 1600s.

Patrick grew up in Houston and went to several schools there. From a young age, he developed many artistic and athletic skills. He enjoyed ice skating, classical ballet, and acting in school plays. He also played football in high school and hoped to get a scholarship for college, but a knee injury ended his football dreams. At the same time, he practiced martial arts like Wushu, Taekwondo, and Aikido. In 1972, he moved to New York City to continue his dance training at famous schools like the Harkness Ballet and Joffrey Ballet.

Patrick Swayze's Acting Career

Starting Out in the 1980s

Patrick Swayze's first professional job was as a dancer for Disney in a show called Disney on Parade. After that, he played the lead role of Danny Zuko in the Broadway musical Grease. In 1979, he made his first movie appearance in Skatetown, U.S.A.. He also appeared in a 1981 episode of the TV show M*A*S*H.

Swayze became more well-known after starring in The Outsiders in 1983. In this film, he played Darrel "Darry" Curtis, the older brother of characters played by C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe. That same year, he was in the film Uncommon Valor with Gene Hackman. The next year, Swayze, Howell, and Darren Dalton reunited in the movie Red Dawn, along with Jennifer Grey. In 1986, Rob Lowe and Swayze worked together again in Youngblood. Swayze also had a big success in the 1985 TV miniseries North and South, which was set during the American Civil War.

Swayze at the Academy Awards

In 1987, Swayze starred in Dirty Dancing, a low-budget movie that became a huge international hit. He played Johnny Castle, a dance instructor at a resort, alongside his co-star Jennifer Grey. The movie allowed Swayze to show off his amazing dance skills. He also co-wrote and sang "She's Like the Wind" for the movie's soundtrack, which became a top-10 hit song. Dirty Dancing was the first film to sell one million copies on video and earned over $214 million worldwide. Swayze received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role. After Dirty Dancing, he was in high demand and appeared in several films, including Road House in 1989.

Success in the 1990s

Swayze's next big role was Sam Wheat in the 1990 romance-thriller film Ghost, where he starred with Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tony Goldwyn. Ghost was the highest-grossing film of that year and received great reviews. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, and Swayze earned another Golden Globe nomination. It was Swayze who suggested that the producers hire Whoopi Goldberg, and she thanked him when she won her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The scene where he and Moore use a pottery wheel became very famous. The next year, he starred with Keanu Reeves in another major action hit, Point Break.

For his important contributions to movies, Swayze was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997. In May 1997, Swayze was injured while filming Letters from a Killer when he fell from a horse and hit a tree. He broke both his legs and hurt his shoulder. Filming stopped for two months. He slowly recovered, but it took time for him to get back to acting fully.

In 1995, Swayze appeared in the movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. In this film, he starred with Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo as three drag queens whose car breaks down, leaving them stuck in a small town.

Roles in the 2000s

Swayze and Paula Abdul at the 1990 Grammy Awards

In 2001, he appeared in Donnie Darko, a film that later became a cult classic. After this, he co-starred with Billy Bob Thornton and Charlize Theron in Waking Up in Reno. In 2004, he played Allan Quatermain in King Solomon's Mines and had a small role in the Dirty Dancing prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, as a dance instructor.

In 2003, Swayze also co-produced and starred in the dance film One Last Dance with his real-life wife, Lisa Niemi. They both produced the film, starred in it, and even helped create some of the music.

Swayze made his debut in London's West End in the musical Guys and Dolls in 2006. He also provided the voice for Cash, a country music band dog, in The Fox and the Hound 2 (2006). In 2007, he starred in the film Christmas in Wonderland. Swayze played an older rock star in Powder Blue (2008), which was the first time he acted in a film with his younger brother, Don.

In his final role, Swayze played FBI agent Charles Barker in the TV show The Beast. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after filming the first episode, but he bravely continued working on the show while getting treatment. The Beast started in January 2009 and ran for one season. Many people praised his performance, saying it was one of his best.

Personal Life

Marriage and Beliefs

Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi, at the 1990 Grammy Awards

Patrick Swayze was married to Lisa Niemi for 34 years, from June 12, 1975, until his death. They did not have any children. They first met in 1970 when Patrick was 18 and Lisa was 14, and she was taking dance lessons from Patrick's mother. In an interview, Swayze said that Lisa was the inspiration for his song "She's Like the Wind."

Swayze was interested in different belief systems and faiths. He explored Soka Gakkai Buddhism, and also tried therapy and transcendental meditation. He believed it was important to respect other religious teachings.

Swayze was also a licensed pilot. On June 1, 2000, while flying his plane with his dogs, he had to make an emergency landing on a dirt road in Arizona due to a problem with the plane. He was not hurt. In 2006, he and Lisa, who was also a pilot, had another incident with their plane when an engine failed, but Lisa successfully landed it. After these events, they decided to sell that plane and buy a different one.

Illness and Passing

In late 2007, Patrick Swayze began to feel a burning sensation in his stomach. In mid-January 2008, he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He went to the Stanford University Medical Center for chemotherapy and treatment.

Despite many rumors that his death was near, Swayze continued to work and fight his illness. He made public appearances and spoke about his treatments. In September 2008, he appeared on the Stand Up to Cancer telethon to ask for donations for cancer research. He told the audience, "I dream that the word 'cure' will no longer be followed by the words 'it's impossible.' Together, we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse."

In an interview in January 2009, Swayze admitted that the cancer had spread a little to his liver, but he told the interviewer that he was "kicking it." He also mentioned using some Chinese herbs alongside his chemotherapy.

Memorial stone for Patrick Swayze dedicated in November 2009, at Mountain Lake Hotel where Dirty Dancing was filmed

On January 9, 2009, Swayze was hospitalized with pneumonia, which was a side effect of his chemotherapy. He was released a week later to rest at home. On April 19, 2009, doctors told him the cancer had spread again to his liver. Swayze had been a smoker for 40 years and believed it might have contributed to his illness. He continued to smoke even while undergoing treatment.

Patrick Swayze passed away with his family by his side on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57. His publicist confirmed that he died of pancreatic cancer. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over his ranch in New Mexico.

Patrick Swayze's Legacy

Patrick Swayze's movies and characters have left a lasting impact on pop culture. For example:

• In an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, a character sings a Christmas carol about Swayze's movie Road House.
• In the Canadian TV series Trailer Park Boys, a character is sometimes called Patrick Swayze because he looks similar to Swayze's character in Road House.
• In the MCU film The Avengers, Tony Stark calls Thor "Point Break" because Thor reminds him of Swayze's character in that movie.
• In the TV series Cobra Kai, a character named Robby Keene reveals his middle name is Swayze, named after his mother's love for the actor.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Music

Songs from Soundtracks

Awards and Nominations

Patrick Swayze received many awards and nominations for his work in movies and television. He was nominated three times for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Movie for his roles in Dirty Dancing, Ghost, and To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything!, Julie Newmar. In 1996, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to movies. His star is located at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard.

Images for kids

• 

  Patrick Swayze in 1990

See also

In Spanish: Patrick Swayze para niños