Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. .

Swayze's first professional appearance was as a dancer for Disney on Parade. He then starred as a replacement playing the role of Danny Zuko in the long-running Broadway production of Grease before his debut film role as "Ace" in Skatetown, U.S.A.. He became known to the film industry after appearing in The Outsiders.

Swayze's breakthrough role came with his performance as dance instructor Johnny Castle in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, alongside his co-star, Jennifer Grey. Swayze received a Golden Globe Award nomination for the role and also sang one of the songs on the soundtrack, "She's Like the Wind", which he had originally co-written with Stacy Widelitz. The song became a top ten hit and has been covered by other artists.

His biggest movie appearance was in 1990, when he starred in Ghost, with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.

In 2001, he appeared in the film Donnie Darko, and had a cameo appearance in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights as an unnamed dance instructor.

Swayze made his West End theatre début in the musical Guys and Dolls as Nathan Detroit in July 2006. His previous appearances on the Broadway stage had included productions of Goodtime Charley and Chicago.

Swayze also provided the voice for Cash the country music band dog in The Fox and the Hound 2 and in 2007 starred in the film Christmas in Wonderland. His last role was starring in the A&E FBI drama The Beast. He died from Stage IV pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009.

Music Videos

 * She’s Like the Wind
 * Brothers (with Larry Gatlin)