Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was born August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas. Swayze’s parents were Jesse Wayne Swayze and Patricia Yvonne Helen Karnes, a choreographer and owner of a ballet school. Jesse Swayze died in 1982 due to several complications resulting from his alcoholism. Swayze attended elementary school, middle school and high school in Houston before moving to New York City for his secondary education. Dedicated to dance, Swayze trained at the prestigious Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools.
Swayze’s professional debut as a dancer was for Disney on Parade followed by a role in the Broadway production of Grease. Swayze quickly made his break into cinema with the roller disco film Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979). Opposite Scott Baio and Flip Wilson, the film marked Swayze’s very humble beginnings. Next he took a small part in the 1980 feel good romantic comedy The Comeback Kid. While it was undeniably John Ritter’s film, any Swayze fan will enjoy seeing him in his pre-fame days. The next year, Swayze turned in a one-episode appearance on the popular television series M*A*S*H (1981).
He continued working in this manner until 1987, which would eventually prove to be his breakout year. Notable films and appearances from 1981 to 1987 were The Renegades (1982), Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders (1983), Uncommon Valor (1983) with Gene Hackman, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Red Dawn (1984) and Youngblood (1986).
But in 1987, Swayze broke onto the film scene in a big way with his surprise hit Dirty Dancing. The film also starred other virtual unknown, Jennifer Grey. Playing dance instructor Johnny Castle and spouting famous American cinema lines like “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” Swayze earned himself a Golden Globe nomination and a spot in the annals of cinema icon-hood. He also earned a BMI Film and TV Award for writing and performing the song She’s Like the Wind.
Riding off the success of his previous movie, Swayze took the lead in several films, but it seemed nothing could recreate the commercial success and popular acclaim of Dirty Dancing. Then, in 1990 another choice role came his way. He played opposite Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, and earned himself another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama as well as a Saturn Award nomination. At the Oscars the film itself was nominated for Best Picture, and Goldberg emerged with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Following on the heels of Ghost, Swayze costarred in Point Break (1991) with Keanu Reeves, but the film only reached a small level of commercial success. It was at this point that Swayze fell into a mild slump. But it wasn’t the first time Swayze’s career had taken this type of turn. For several years after the success of both Dirty Dancing and Ghost, Swayze managed to work steadily but in a slew of mildly received films. But in 1995 his career got exactly what it needed—a shot of transgender fun. He costarred in the comedy To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar with Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo. For his role, Swayze earned his third Golden Globe nomination.
Swayze has continued to work steadily through the 90’s and into the millennium punctuated by smaller roles and some successes such as Donnie Darko (2001), Waking up in Reno (2002) and Keeping Mum (2005). He is currently in post-production for The Fox and the Hound 2.
Swayze is noted for his deep spiritual beliefs. He has been associated with the Catholic religion, Baptism, Buddhism, and Scientology. Unfortunately, like his father before him, Swayze battled with alcoholism. However, unlike his father, Swayze was able to acknowledge and beat his problem. He has been married to Lisa Niemi from 1975 to present, and the two have no children. In early March 2008 Patrick's publicist announced that he was suffering froma terminal illness and confirmed that the actor was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was only diagnosed a month before, but the cancer had already spread but his doctor said that his prognosis was not as bad as the media was predicting ans he was responding well to the treatment.
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