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• American dancer, actor, singer and songwriter Patrick Swayze was cast in the breakthrough role "Johnny Castle" in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. He also received acclaim for his role opposite Demi Moore in the 1990 film Ghost.

  Swayze, who suffered from pancreatic cancer, died on September 14, 2009. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2008.http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b144155_patrick_swayze_hollywoods_dirty_dancer.html Rumors that Swayze had died had earlier surfaced in May 2009.Buzz Newsroom: Patrick Swayze is Dead at 57 (May 19, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: August 18, 1952
  2. Birthplace: Houston, Texas
  3. Was in the Broadway production of Grease before making his film debut
  4. Two-time Golden Globe nominee for his roles in Dirty Dancing and Ghost
  5. Was married to Lisa Niemi
  6. Younger brother is Don Swayze
  7. Former Catholic, Baptist, Buddhist and Scientologist
  8. Was offered $6 million dollars to reprise his roll as "Johnny Castle" but turned it down
  9. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late January 2008

• Plea to Congress

  In February 2009, Swayze took his cancer battle to Congress asking them to "vote for the maximum funding to let the National Institutes of Health fight cancer and other life-threatening illnesses." He continued his plea, "Stand up to cancer. Stand up for people fighting serious disease. Stand up and help restore America's economy. Stand up to create jobs, fight illness and deliver hope."Hollyscoop: Swayze Asks Government To Help In Cancer Fight (February 10, 2009)

• Cancer Treatment

  The National Enquirer reported in late January of 2009, that Swayze had stopped his treatments after physicians told him that the progression of the disease couldn't be stopped. However, Swayze's rep responded to the report by stating that it is "not true" and that Swayze was "continuing treatment."US Weekly: Swayze Still Undergoing Cancer Treatment (January 29, 2009)

• Pneumonia

  People Magazine reported on January 9, 2009, that Patrick Swayze had checked into the hospital for treatment of pneumonia. The news of his hospitalization was revealed at a Television Critics Association press event in Los Angeles to promote the premiere of the A&E series The Beast, in which Swayze co-stars. A&E president Abbe Raven announced, "As we arrived here this morning we have some news. Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital. However, he asked us specifically to go forward with today's panel. We wish him the very best with his recovery."People: Patrick Swayze Checks Into Hospital with Pneumonia (January 9, 2009) One week later, on January 16, 2009, Swayze's representative reported that he had been released from hospital and was resting at his home after receiving treatment for pneumonia.People: Patrick Swayze Released From Hospital (January 16, 2009)

• Interview with Barbara Walters

  In an interview with Barbara Walters, airing on ABC on January 7, 2009, Swayze expressed his feelings about his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, stating, "You can bet that I'm going through hell. And I've only seen the beginning of it. There's a lot of fear here. There's a lot of stuff going on. Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking] why me. Yeah, I'm all this stuff." He also talked about the filming of his new television series titled The Beast with Walters stating, "When you're shooting, you can't do drugs. I can't do Hydrocodone or Vicodin or these kinds of things that take the edge off of it, cause it takes the edge off of your brain."Huffington Post: "I'm Going Through Hell" (January 6, 2009)

• Pancreatic Cancer

  Swayze's rep, Annett Wolf, confirmed in March of 2008 that the actor was battling pancreatic cancer and had been undergoing treatment. Swayze's physician, Dr. George Fisher, released the following statement, "Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far. All of the reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."MSNBC: Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer (March 6, 2008) On November 28, 2008, the National Enquirer reported that the cancer had spread to Swayze's liver and his chances of survival had decreased.News.com.au: Sayze "says goodbye as Cancer spreads" (November 28, 2008)

• Career Moves

  Swayze began his career as a dancer in Disney on Parade, then caught the eye of producers who cast him in The Outsiders, Red Dawn and the television series North and South. After filming Dirty Dancing and Ghost, he was injured while filming HBO's Letters from a Killer in 1996, causing him to remain out of work for four years.

• Swayze Quotes

  "One thing I'm not gonna do is chase staying alive...You spend so much time chasing staying alive, you won't live."Los Angeles Times: TCA Press Tour: 'Beast' Makers Talk About Patrick Swayze (January 10, 2009)

  "For me, fighting cancer is personal. Ever since I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008, I’ve been waging an intense, often hellacious battle. It’s me (with a lot of love and medical support) against my disease."Hollyscoop: Swayze Asks Government To Help In Cancer Fight (February 10, 2009)

  "Our individual battles should also be national ones. With Congress about to decide how much money to include for medical research as part of the economic stimulus package, the time has come to take my personal fight to a larger stage."Hollyscoop: Swayze Asks Government To Help In Cancer Fight (February 10, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Patrick Swayze Cancer | Patrick Swayze Smoking | Lisa Niemi | Dirty Dancing | Road House | Point Break | Keanu Reeves | Demi Moore | Jennifer Grey | Matt Dillon | Ralph Macchio | Whoopi Goldberg | Ghost | To Wong Foo | Wesley Snipes | John Leguizamo | Donnie Darko Soundtrack | Brock Pierce | The Beast | Patrick Swayze Dead | Patrick Swayze Movies

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