Patrick Swayze(1952-2009)
- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, to Patsy Swayze (née Yvonne Helen Karnes), a choreographer, and Jesse Wayne Swayze, a chemical plant
engineer draftsman. His mother owned a dance school in
Houston, where Patrick was also a student. His father passed away in
1982. He graduated from Waltrip High School in Houston, and attended
San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. He married actress/dancer
Lisa Niemi on June 12, 1975, whom he had
known when she was 15 and a student at his mother's dance school. His
New York City dance training included the Harkness Ballet School and
Joffrey Ballet School. He first danced professionally as "Prince
Charming" in "Disney on Parade". After a stint as "Danny Zuko" in the
original Broadway production of "Grease", he made his film debut with a
small role in
Skatetown U.S.A. (1979). He
made his television debut in 1981 on
M*A*S*H (1972), as a soldier
diagnosed with leukemia.
After many supporting roles in films and a lead role in the TV
mini-series
North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985), he
landed his breakthrough role as dance instructor "Johnny Castle" in the
hit film Dirty Dancing (1987), for
which he received a Golden Globe nomination. He received a second
nomination for his portrayal of "Sam Wheat" in the blockbuster
Ghost (1990).
Ghost (1990) was the highest-grossing film
of 1990, and at one point, the fourth highest-grossing film of all
time. Unfortunately, he did not capitalize on its success. His
subsequent films like
City of Joy (1992),
Tall Tale (1995),
Black Dog (1998), and
Waking Up in Reno (2002) did
not fare well with critics or audiences. In December 2003, he returned
to Broadway as a replacement for the lead role of "Billy Flynn" in the
acclaimed revival of John Kander &
Fred Ebb's musical, "Chicago". The production
also went on tour in several cities of the United States, including Los
Angeles. In January 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He
fought the illness for well over a year and was able to continue
working, but died on September 14, 2009.
engineer draftsman. His mother owned a dance school in
Houston, where Patrick was also a student. His father passed away in
1982. He graduated from Waltrip High School in Houston, and attended
San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. He married actress/dancer
Lisa Niemi on June 12, 1975, whom he had
known when she was 15 and a student at his mother's dance school. His
New York City dance training included the Harkness Ballet School and
Joffrey Ballet School. He first danced professionally as "Prince
Charming" in "Disney on Parade". After a stint as "Danny Zuko" in the
original Broadway production of "Grease", he made his film debut with a
small role in
Skatetown U.S.A. (1979). He
made his television debut in 1981 on
M*A*S*H (1972), as a soldier
diagnosed with leukemia.
After many supporting roles in films and a lead role in the TV
mini-series
North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985), he
landed his breakthrough role as dance instructor "Johnny Castle" in the
hit film Dirty Dancing (1987), for
which he received a Golden Globe nomination. He received a second
nomination for his portrayal of "Sam Wheat" in the blockbuster
Ghost (1990).
Ghost (1990) was the highest-grossing film
of 1990, and at one point, the fourth highest-grossing film of all
time. Unfortunately, he did not capitalize on its success. His
subsequent films like
City of Joy (1992),
Tall Tale (1995),
Black Dog (1998), and
Waking Up in Reno (2002) did
not fare well with critics or audiences. In December 2003, he returned
to Broadway as a replacement for the lead role of "Billy Flynn" in the
acclaimed revival of John Kander &
Fred Ebb's musical, "Chicago". The production
also went on tour in several cities of the United States, including Los
Angeles. In January 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He
fought the illness for well over a year and was able to continue
working, but died on September 14, 2009.
Reboots & Remakes
Reboots & Remakes
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