Patrick Swayze died on Monday Sept. 14, 2009, at age 57 from a 20 month battle with pancreatic cancer.
His funeral service is to be held on Friday Sept. 18. The actor is to be cremated. It is said that his ashes are to be scattered at his ranch in New Mexico.
Swayze is the latest casualty during the “Summer of Death 2009.” The television show Dancing with the Stars is due to have a memorial service for the beloved actor on the Sept. 23, 2009, show.
The Time of my Life, Patrick Swayze’s memoirs, has a release date of Sept 29, 2009. The book was co-written by his wife, Lisa Niemi. In it the actor says, “I began thinking to myself, I have had more lifetimes than any 10 people put together, and it’s been an amazing ride. So this is okay.” His memoirs span everything from when he met his (at the time) soon-to-be wife at age 18, through his battle with alcoholism in the early 1990’s, to his battle against cancer and chemotherapy as well as everything in between.
His past co-stars have been remembering him with great fondness. Jennifer Grey had this to say about the actor, “Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace.”
As the preparations for the funeral of Patrick Swayze are being planned for sometime after the cremation of his body, the world and Hollywood continue to morn his passing and celebrate his life. “Life is an amazing ride” a quote from the star which will be remembered for years to come. In his up and coming memoir which more of can be read here at http://www.nydailynews.com/ Patrick Swayze explores his life from dancer to actor to his protracted fight with cancer. Patrick Swayze will be remembered by some as an actor’s actor.
“a conscious decision to have a great time screwing up my career.” a quote that speaks volumes as to his personalty and dedication to the craft of acting. More can be found at http://popwatch.ew.com, where one can get an in depth feel for one of the greatest actors of all time.
His career from Drag Queen in Too Wong Foo “Judy Newmyer” to Red Dawn super Jock, Jed truly exemplifies acting and what it should and could be. As the plans are being made for his finial dance routine, most of his biggest fans are still finding inspiration in a truly gifted actor. The world has truly lost one of its best.
Patrick Swayze 1957-2009 Will be sadly missed.
Patrick Swayze Dead at Age 57
After battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years, actor Patrick Swayze passed away on Monday September 14th, 2009. He was just 57 years old.
Perhaps best known for his roles in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, Swayze kept busy working long after his diagnosis in January of 2008.
The diagnosis came during the time when Swayze was competing on the hit TV show Dancing With The Stars. He was undergoing regular and aggressive chemotherapy treatments, but never let it slow him down. The 3 time Golden Globe Nominee became a house hold name after starring in Dirty Dancing, but was seldom praised by critics. In 1991 he was named People Magazine’s sexiest man alive. Some of Swayze’s other famous roles were in Road House, Next of Kin, and the TV mini-series North and South. His last performance came in January 09 on the A&E TV show The Beast.
Patrick Swayze was born on the 18th of August, 1952.
His mother was a choreographer and dance instructor, and his father was an engineer. He had two brothers and two sisters. He married his long time sweetheart Lisa Niemi in 1975.
Swayze’s publicist said he passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with his family by his side.
Funeral Arrangements
No funeral arrangements have been announced yet, but friends family and fans have several options to pay tribute to the actor.
Here are a list of special and tributes airing on TV over the next several days.
on TV Guide a tribute – starts airing at 5 central
Larry King on CNN – @ 8 central
Barbara Walters (re-air of interview) @ 9 pm central
Showbiz Tonight @ 10 am and again at 10 pm on HLN
Friends Remember Patrick Swayze
We all know Patrick Swayze from his roles in such movies as Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Road House. Subsequently, on Sept. 14, 2009, his battle with pancreatic cancer finally was put to an end.
Several of Swayze’s co-stars from over the years were not shy about expressing their feelings of the news. Demi Moore, who co-starred in Ghost, along with many others, chose to do so on Twitter, a social network, saying, “Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives… And in the words of Sam to Molly, ‘It’s amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.”
Jennifer Gray, who co-starred in Dirty Dancing, had this to say, “Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace … He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.”
In January of 2008 Swayze was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and on Jan. 15, 2009 he was the lead in his show The Beast, but due to his failing health he was not able to promote the series; on Entertainment Tonight announced that the show had been cancelled on June 15, 2009. In 1991 Peoples magazine listed him as the “Sexiest Man Alive.”
Actor Patrick Swayze died at age 57 today after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Patrick’s rep issued this statement:
“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months.”
Recently Swayze made waves on A&E in his dramatic police series “The Beast,” but many of us came to love Swayze for his now iconic roles in films like Red Dawn, Road House, Point Break, Ghost, Donnie Darko and many more.
The Texas native missed only one day of work while filming the series “The Beast” on A&E. “One thing I’m not going to do is chase staying alive,” he told interviewer Barbara Walters at the time. “You spend so much time chasing staying alive, you won’t live.”
In 2006, the American Cancer Society (ACS) predicted that 33,730 Americans (17,150 men and 16,580 women) would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; the ACS also estimated that 32,300 American men and women would die of pancreatic cancer in 2006.
Patrick Swayze was spotted leaving Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August, 26th. The ‘Dirty Dancing’ star has been fighting an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer and was at the medical center for treatment. According to the Daily Mail from London, Swayze has been confined to a wheelchair.
Swayze turned 57 last week and was gaut and frail as he was wheeled out of the hospital. He was wearing a cowboy hat and had several drips and catherter hooked up to him. Swayze had been admitted to the hospital earlier in the month for treatment of intestinal bleeding.
From published and eye witness reports, Swayze looked as if he was in alot of pain. Since being diagnosed in early 2008, Swayze has been splitting time between homes in LA and New Mexico. He has even starred in a USA television series ‘The Beast’ in which he played an undercover FBI agent.
He is also working on an autobiography entitled, ‘The Time of My Life’. In an interview with Barbara Walters, Swayze seems pretty optimstic about his condition and when asked about the possibility of facing death, he stated ‘I keep dreaming of a future. One of a long and healthy life. Not one lived in the shadow of cancer but one lived in the light’.
Patrick Swayze is probably best known for his starring role in the movie “Dirty Dancing” which was aired in 1987. The movie is considered a cult classic and grossed over $213 million. Swayze played the romantic lead in the film and his sexy demeanor has captured the heart of many a female. The future is uncertain for this actor though, he has been fighting pancreatic cancer since his diagnosis in early 2008.
Love stories make good movies, but are even better in real life. Patrick and his wife of 33 years, Lisa Niemi, personify the good old fashioned fairy tale kind of love. Their devotion for each other has transcended decades of good and not so good times in their lives.
Their combined passion for dancing, choreography, and the same core values has not only enhanced this marriage, it has made it one for the record books.
Swayze has had many hits and just as many tumbles in his career as an actor. His most notable accomplishments are “Roadhouse,” and “Ghost,” although he has starred in many more movies and TV roles, which, if not an overwhelming success, are always enjoyable for his legions of fans.
Rumors abound that “Dirty Dancing” is being remade. Screenwriter Julia Dahl has already penned the sequel. During a time when famous 80’s movies are enjoying resurgence in popularity in such hits as “Footloose,” and “Fame,” the remake of “Dirty Dancing” couldn’t come at a better time. Gossip columnists are all casting their votes for who should be the stars of this “sure to be a hit” film.
Patrick Swayze continues his work, not only by filming his FBI drama “The Beast” but also fighting his own internal beast, the cancer that continually threatens to end his life. Recent photo’s show him looking lightly tanned, fit, and healthy. So, maybe, just this once, the good guy will win in the end!
Dance with me one more time Baby
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” Well baby may get cornered once again as Lionsgate goes into talks about a remake of the ever so popular “Dirty Dancing” from the 1980’s. The original turned Patrick Swayze into a rising star overnight as the dance instructor Johnny Castle. The original also starred Jennifer Grey as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (who also starred in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with Matthew Bardrick a year earlier.) Will the new version shot any of the new cast into super stardom?
The original Dirty Dancing is the story of a rich young girl who meets an older rebellious dance instructor, from the wrong side of the tracks, while staying at a summer resort with her family. They dance into each hearts and cause a lot of damage along the way.
The new version is being penned by Julia Dahl who has written for popular tv shows The West Wing, Party of Five, and Just Shoot Me. She also wrote the movie Uptown Girls which starred Brittany Murphy. At this time there in no word about the new cast but a lot people are speculating. A few media outlets are predicting it will be ‘High School Musical’ stars Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale as the leads of Johnny Castle and Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman.
The original Dirty Dancing was made a budget of $5,000,000 and went on to gross over $200,000,000 worldwide. Will the new movie do as well? I am sure Lionsgate hopes it will but only time and the movie going public will tell.
Patrick Swayze is currently battle pancreatic cancer. Despide reports which suggested the actor is slowly losing his battle witht the dease, recent photos show Swayze looking healthy.