Patrick Swayze Biography

Patrick Swayze, dancer, actor, singer and songwriter

Birthdate: August 18, 1952

Birthplace: Houston, Texas

Sign: Leo

Actor Patrick Swayze is an actor, dancer, singer and songwriter who has defined his career with two important films. The first, "Dirty Dancing" was Swayze's breakthrough role and the second film "Ghost" has had a cultural impact on movie goers.

Playing the 1987 dancing instructor Johnny Castle, Swayze shot to fame opposite Jennifer Grey in the movie "Dirty Dancing." Originally the movie was a low-budget project expected to go quickly to video, but became a surprise hit and achieved massive international success. It was the first film to sell one million copies on video and as of 2007 had earned over $300 million.

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." Swayze originally co-wrote the song with Stacy Widelitz for the film "Grandview, U.S.A." The song became a top-10 hit and has been covered by many artists.

After the success of "Dirty Dancing," Swayze found himself typecast and appeared in several flops. In 1989, he starred in the movie "Road House" which was well received.

He had a hit again in 1990 when he starred in "Ghost" with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. The role had considerable cultural impact and modern hip-hop lyrics routinely use the phrase "Like a Swayze" referring to the film.

In 1991, he starred in the major action hit "Point Break" with Keanu Reeves.

Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas to Jesse Wayne Swayze and choreographer and ballet school owner Patsy Swayze. He is part Apache and has a brother Don Swayze, who is also an actor. He danced at his mother's studio most of his life, but his formal dance training was at the Harkness Ballet and Joffrey Ballet Schools in New York City.

His first professional role was as a dancer for Disney on Parade and he then appeared in the Broadway production of "Grease." His first films were "The Outsiders," "Red Dawn" and "Youngblood." He was also in the successful 1985 television mini-series "North and South."

In 1996, Swayze was seriously injured while filming the HBO movie "Letters from a Killer" when he fell from his horse, hit a tree, and broke both of his legs and detached four tendons in his shoulder. Filming was suspended for two months but the film was eventually finished.

Swayze made the headlines again in June of 2000 while flying with his dogs in his twin-engine Cessna from Van Nuys, California to Las Vegas, New Mexico. The plan developed a problem over Arizona and Swayze made a precautionary landing on a dirt road near a housing complex. He was unhurt.

Swayze has been married to Lisa Niemi since 1975. The couple has been together since Lisa, at age 15, began taking dance lessons with Swayze's mother.

Swayze is a recovering alcoholic and entered a clinic after his sister Vicky passed away.

Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late January of 2008 and began undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Stanford University Medical Center.