Patrick Swayze was a man who could do it all—he was an actor, a dancer, a singer, and an excellent gymnast. He even flew planes! His passion for dance is something he shared with his mother, and his father helped him make his dreams a reality by instilling principles and morals in him through his childhood. While he’s best-known for his work in Dirty Dancing, there are plenty of films and TV appearances that he’s made. His pancreatic cancer diagnosis broke the hearts of many, and his death was a sad day. Here, we give a detailed description of Patrick Swayze’s life— from birth to death and everything in between.

Patrick Swayze’s Birth

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, to Patsy and Jesse Swayze of the Oak Forest neighborhood in Houston, Texas. He has stayed in Oak Forest until the age of twenty. His father made his earnings as a chemical plant engineering draftsman, while his mother ran a dancing school. Patrick was the second of five kids—his four siblings are Sean Kyle, Bambi, Vickie Lynn and Don Swayze—and was raised in the Catholic faith.

Swayze’s Schooling

He attended several schools during his education, including St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Black Middle School, Oak Forest Elementary School, and Waltrip High School. Swayze involved himself in several extra-curricular activities – gymnastics, swimming, dancing, and football. He graduated from Waltrip High to attend San Jacinto College in Pasadena, in Texas. Throughout his schooling, he attended dance classes held by his mother, instilling in him a deep passion for the arts.

 He Became ‘The Tough Guy’

Swayze faced a fair amount of bullying during his schooling. When he was about twelve years old, five boys took at him all at once. His father saw the cuts and bruises and began teaching Patrick hand-to-hand combat, which he became skilled at since he was a Golden Gloves boxer and a onetime rodeo champion. A few months later, Jesse went to school and asked for the five boys saying they could “settle this thing”. They fought Patrick one at a time and he sent each boy with bruises and bloody wounds. Imagine this tough guy, walking around with ballet shoes and a violin case!

A Bad Knee

 

Swayze had a dream of playing football, and that’s what was on the cards—but not for long. Right before college, he was struck with a bad knee injury that put an end to his sporting dreams. Patrick was determined not to allow the injury to destroy his other passion. After painful and difficult rehabilitation of his knee, he wound up studying dance at San Jacinto then at Joffrey Ballet and Harkness Ballet schools in New York.

He Developed a Passion for Dance and Gymnastics

It was at San Jacinto College where he engaged in training programs in gymnastics. In 1972, he decided to travel to New York where he furthered his dance training at institutes like Joffrey Ballet School and Harkness Ballet School. His deep passion for dance combined with the refined skills and talent he inherited from his mother have set him up for greatness in the dancing industry. It was for the Disney on Parade event that he first delivered a professional performance.

His Big Dream

Patrick’s dreams of advancing his gymnastics career grew stronger. He excelled in a spectrum of physical activities throughout his young adult years, ranging from various sports to gymnastics to dance. In his heart, he wanted to compete with the U.S. Olympic team and bring home the gold. He was actually training with an Olympic coach. While he never ended up in the international competition, the intense training never went to waste as it was vital in his future.

Swayze’s One True Love

Being the handsome hunk that he was, every woman was swooning around him. But Patrick had only one woman in his heart—Lisa Niemi. Patrick was eighteen when he met fourteen-year-old Lisa who was a student in his mother’s dance class. He knew she was different and he pursued her for years, all the while dedicating himself to his gymnastics career and Lisa to her dance. They got married on  June 12, 1975.

His Beer Commercial

In 1979, Patrick Swayze landed an alcohol commercial for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. In the ad, he was pictured out in town with a girl plus a bit of fancy footwork followed by a crisp refreshing beer. The handsome hunk sure promoted the drink really well! It was said that the commercial gave off John Travolta vibes—not necessarily a bad thing for Swayze! All this was at the height of the Saturday Night Fever. 

His Film Debut

Patrick’s feature film debut was in Skatetown in 1979. He played the character Ace, a leather-clad roller-disco gang leader. It was not the role he was actually after. It was that of John Travolta in Urban Cowboy, which was choreographed by his mother and his wife in Houston. Swayze later said that he ended up hanging out with Travolta one night and he was teaching him a few steps. According to Patrick, it frustrated him even more since country dancing is in his DNA. He liked John but he hated giving someone else tips on how to take on a role he was born to play.

Swayze in The Outsiders

Patrick Swayze seems to have had a unique experience while filming The Outsiders. Swayze revealed that the director of the film, Francis Ford Coppola, had his own way of motivating the actors to deliver a believable performance. He brought out realistic emotions from his actors on screen by cleverly drawing out each actor’s deepest darkest secrets. He would then announce them on the loudspeaker to make their blood boil so they would be able to produce a strong performance on set. Or, Francis would orchestrate actual rifts between the actors. Seems like you’d need therapy after that!

Swayze in Red Dawn

There was also plenty of fun on set during the filming of Red Dawn. The film’s director, John Milius, placed the actors through a game of ‘Capture the Flag with National Guard Troops’, much like a training camp. Swayze pulled a prank on Milius to lighten the mood, which consisted of a toilet in Milius’ trailer rigged with M60 dynamite sticks. Swayze detonated the sticks when Milius went in to sit on the ‘throne’. As he ran out in panic, Swayze detonated another round hidden in garbage cans, practically giving Milius a heart attack!

Increasing in Popularity

Patrick Swayze sure did deliver great performances and worked hard with his film appearances during the ’80s. His fame increased not only because of his impressive acting and dancing talents but also because of his chiseled and charming features, signature smile, and good nature. He became popular for taking on ‘tough guy’ characters in movies and also the romantic leads, which gained him a greater female fan base. He was well on his way of earning the status of teen idol and masculine symbol.

Swayze’s TV Success

Swayze first got a taste of success with the 1985 TV series, North and South. Based on the American Civil War, the show’s credentials added significant weight to Swayze’s growing portfolio. The film was a great success! It was produced by David Wolper, who also has the success of The Thorn Birds and Roots under his belt. Swayze had to be persuaded to leave films for a TV show, but it sure worked to his advantage in the end!

Swayze’s Big Break

Patrick Swayze came across his big break with the role of sultry dance teacher Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing in 1987. He performed alongside Jennifer Grey, his co-star in Red Dawn. The coming-of-age film was financially modest and was not intended or anticipated to be the success that it was! The huge worldwide success it achieved was a welcome surprise (especially with how little the money was spent on filming), as the movie was actually only to be shown for one weekend only in theatres before video release.

Swayze’s Biggest Role

Of course, with the immense success Dirty Dancing achieved, it was only natural for Swayze to find himself in high demand in the acting world. He appeared in a number of films including the 1989 movie called Roadhouse. However, his most famous role yet was when he played the lead character in Ghost alongside Demi Moore and the famous Whoopi Goldberg in 1990. Greatness sure was in store for this talented hunk and his bank account was about to feel it, too!

How He Landed the Role of ‘Sam Wheat’

You never really know what could come in handy one day. For Patrick Swayze, an interview he once did showed him shedding tears over a question about his father. This interview happened to draw far more attention to him than anticipated. Bruce Joel Rubin, the writer of Ghost, saw the interview and identified with Swayze’s vulnerability, a quality he felt was crucial for the character in his film. This is how Patrick Swayze landed the role of Sam Wheat. Of course, his charming smile may have helped!

The Hunk of the Year

With his immensely increasing fame and net worth, Swayze received three nominations for the Golden Globe Award and he was also named ‘Hottest Man Alive’ by People magazine in 1991. Further, he was posthumously awarded the Rolex Dance Award back in 2009. Patrick Swayze found a great deal more attention after his role in Ghost, which catapulted him from ‘bad boy dancer’ to a leading man in Hollywood. Swayze was surely reaping the benefits of his hard work by this time!

He Tried Playing the ‘Bad Guy’

While taking on ‘bad guy’ roles was not something Patrick Swayze was known to do, he adopted the charismatic role of Bhodi in the 1991 film, Point Break. He starred alongside another actor whose career benefitted greatly from the role—Keanu Reeves. Patrick Swayze initially auditioned for the role of Johnny Utah, as did Charlie Sheen and Johnny Depp. He received surfing training for the film and refused to use stunt doubles, which ended up costing him four broken ribs. We hope he had health insurance to cover that!

Swayze’s Star on the Boulevard

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a 15-block sidewalk spanning across Hollywood Boulevard, with over 2,600 stars embedded on the walkways bearing the names of the most acclaimed directors, actors, producers, fictional characters, musicians, musical and theatrical groups and others. Swayze was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his incredible contributions to the film industry. Here, we see him flashing his stellar smile while clutching a plaque of his star on August 18, 1997.

His Passion for Arabian Horses

Swayze came to a point where he felt it was time to take a much-needed break from the life of show business and retreat to California to do something else he loved and had a passion for—breeding Arabian horses. It was when he was a young boy in Texas that he first fell in love with the Arabian breed. His wife, Lisa Niemi, was a horse fanatic too. Together, they bought their first Arabian horse in 1986. It was so unlike most celebrities who would probably just spend time on a private yacht and call it a day!

Close Call

It was in 2000 that Patrick Swayze was piloting a private plane in the company of two of his dogs. They found themselves in a dangerous situation when the plane lost cabin pressure and an emergency landing was required. Swayze caught sight of what he thought was a landing strip but was actually a construction site for an upcoming housing development. In spite of the circumstances, he and his dogs landed safely. Although, the plane did cause damage on a streetlamp.

Swayze in Waking Up in Reno

It was in 2002 that Swayze landed a role as Roy Kirkendall in Waking Up in Reno. The film focused on two redneck couples on a road trip to Reno from Little Rock, on their way to see a monster truck rally. Swayze acted alongside great names in the film industry—Charlize Theron and Billy Bob Thornton. As usual, he delivered an impressive and engaging performance with a natural flair you couldn’t get from the best acting school.

Swayze in One Last Dance

In 2003, Swayze was involved in a production that perhaps was the most engaging of all his works—for the simple reason that he footed a lot of work in the film. He acted in One Last Dance, co-produced it, and even composed some of the music in the film. He starred with his real-life wife, Lisa Niemi, who also composed the music with him. Featuring a talented cast, the story revolves around the dance production Without a Word which was choreographed by Alonzo King.  This sure was an impactful addition to his acting portfolio.

Lisa’s Role In His Life

Lisa truly loved Patrick for who he was and with the kind of love and devotion they had for each other, it didn’t really matter whether he was a famous Hollywood actor with great personal finances or otherwise. What Patrick loved about his life was the fact that she was always honest with him no matter what. If there was something wrong with what he was doing, she would always make sure to tell him off. Patrick even used to be insecure and self-destructive but Lisa helped him get through all of that.

Youngblood: Great Role, Bad Reviews

The 1980s was truly the time Patrick Swayze was working hard to get his name out there. He was very passionate about his acting profession and this showed in his performance on screen. Back in 1986, he starred in a movie titled Youngblood alongside actors like Rob Lowe and Keanu Reeves. Though the movie got some mediocre reviews, it was still an opportunity for Swayze to better his craft. The money the movie made at the box office was around $15.4 million.

Not The First Choice

The role of Johnny Castle on Dirty Dancing was such a highlight in Patrick Swayze’s career. Watching reruns of the full movie makes you fall in love with him all over again. Interestingly, Swayze was not really the first choice for the role. Billy Zane was at the top of the list but his dancing skills just didn’t make the cut. Lead star Jennifer Grey also didn’t like Swayze at first because of her experience with him in Red Dawn. Fortunately, their chemistry and friendship just blossomed as time passed.

Walking The Red Carpet

Patrick Swayze attending the Dirty Dancing movie premiere with Jennifer Grey back in 1987 was a much-talked-about celebrity news during that year. They seemed very close to each other that they could already pass as a couple in real life. Although they looked cute together, there were still people who thought the two didn’t get along on set. At the end of the day, celebrities don’t really need to exert so much effort to prove bashers wrong.

Lisa Is Like the Wind

Patrick Swayze actually had a lot of contributions to Dirty Dancing. The song She’s Like The Wind from the movie’s soundtrack was written and sung by Swayze. His passionate love for his wife Lisa had inspired him a lot in writing the song. In the photo above taken at a party in 1987, the couple posed for the camera and you can just see how genuinely happy he was with his wife. Lisa had been so supportive that she even helped him rehearse all his dances for the movie.

Appearing In A Flop Together

Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa were very fortunate to be able to appear on screen together. Around the same time Dirty Dancing was released, Swayze starred with his wife in the movie entitled Steel Dawn. Sadly, the film did not do so good in the box office for it only made $562K versus its original budget of a whopping $3.5 million. Maybe you should watch the full movie so you can see for yourself why it didn’t do so well.

Giving The People What They Want

People just loved when Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey were seen together in real life because of how cute they were as a couple. Back when they attended the 1988 Academy Awards, they teased their fans with couple-like photos just like the one above. Them being cute together in public was somehow good brand management for the movie since it helped attract more people to go and see Dirty Dancing – and see they did!

Being A Bouncer In Road House

Patrick Swayze’s performance in Dirty Dancing just made him such an in-demand name in the industry. Road House was another movie that was released in 1989 where Swayze also starred in. Other actors in the film were Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch, and Ben Gazzara. Swayze played a bouncer who protects a town from a certain businessman who is corrupt. The amount of money the movie reportedly made at the box office was twice its original budget and Rotten Tomatoes even gave the movie a 38% rating.

Genuine Love

By working with Patrick Swayze on Road House, Kelly Lynch was able to see how Swayze was as a husband. She was one of the people who confirmed that Patrick and Lisa were just soulmates. They apparently were like a “single organism” that got through anything that was thrown their way. It was always obvious that these two shared an undying love and a getting a divorce would never be in their vocabulary.

Meeting The Songbird Supreme

Mariah Carey rose to fame in the 1990s ever since she released her very first self-titled album. She was a rising star during that decade so it was inevitable for her and Swayze to cross paths. The photo above was taken when they both appeared in an episode of the popular comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Carey has come a long way since then and today, she reportedly has a net worth of $300 million.

Getting Busy With Gary Busey

Patrick Swayze had a box office hit in 1991 through the movie, Point Break. This was the second time he got to work with actor Keanu Reeves. He also worked with Gary Busey in the film. Actor Busey was once involved in a serious motorcycle accident and the doctors who were attending to him were scared that he obtained a serious case of brain damage. Thankfully, he got the right help and has been doing fine in his seventy-something age.

Photo-op With Some Very Big Stars

People tend to catch the latest celebrity news to watch out for stars – who they’re dating, who are their friends, who hate their guts even. Patrick Swayze was a very friendly guy and he seemed like he got along with a lot of popular names in the industry. The photo above was taken during the 1993 Golden Globe awards. If you can recall, Swayze was the presenter for the awards that Al Pacino won. Jodie Foster was also with them during the photo-op.

Dancing As A Couple

During his glory days, taking care of his health and fitness had helped Patrick Swayze perform better as a dancer. The same goes for his wife Lisa. Back in 1994, the couple danced together in Monte Carlo during the World Music Awards. The duo showcased their sensual moves to the instrumental version of All The Man That I Need by the late Whitney Houston. When asked about the experience, Swayze says it was special and he loved how the world got to see how amazing his wife was.

Good Vibes With Whoopi Goldberg

Back then, social media marketing was not yet a thing and people weren’t attached to their phones since smartphones had not been invented at the time. This meant that celebrities had to make public appearances so that the fans would know more about them. Swayze attended a ton of award ceremonies and was always photographed with other big stars. In the photo above, Swayze is seen giving actress Whoopi Goldberg a peck on the cheek during the 1995  People’s Choice Awards.

The Struggle Behind All The Success

Patrick Swayze won the hearts of many because he proved that he was way more than his good looks. He was blessed with a host of talents like acting, dancing, and singing. Despite doing so many things that were good for his career, he somehow got lost during the 1990s because of an alcohol addiction. Thankfully, he did not let this take over his life and was able to check himself into rehab to get some help. 

Portraying A Gunnery Sergeant On Green Dragon

In 2001, Patrick Swayze starred in a film entitled Green Dragon alongside talented actor Forest Whitaker. Timothy Linh Bui was the director and originally, he did not want Swayze for the lead role but changed his mind after meeting Swayze himself. The photo above shows Swayze and Whitaker attending the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and because the camera used for the photo had good quality, you can see that Swayze was starting to age.

Supporting Other Names In The Industry

The early to mid-2000s was still a very good time for Patrick Swayze because he had been able to continue adding credits to his acting portfolio. Despite his busy schedule, Swayze supported a lot of his friends in the industry by attending their movie premieres. The photo above was taken during the red carpet premiere of the movie, Mona Lisa Smile. Beautiful actresses like Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Kirsten Dunst were the stars of the movie.

Acting In A British Movie

Patrick Swayze still looked like a heartthrob back in the 2000s that we bet he never even imagined that he would be getting some serious health issues. One of the last few movies he appeared in was Keeping Mum. He played a guy named Lance who is a golf instructor and has an affair with Kristin Scott Thomas’ character. The movie made more or less $18.5 million at the box office.

Being Awarded For His Hard Work

Patrick Swayze always had a good career and reputation management and it made him such a promising personality in the Hollywood scene. Despite having a stint in rehab, people still loved him and they adored him for how he was able to bounce back from it. During the 2005 award show of the Video Software Dealers Association, Swayze was awarded the Independent Career Achievement Award. He totally deserved the award as he was such a remarkable person.

Continuing His Theater Career

Patrick Swayze did not limit himself to only appearing on TV and the big screen; he also tried to pursue a career as a stage actor. During the mid-2000s, he was able to make his way to the West End theater and play the role of Nathan Detroit on Guys and Dolls. He also appeared in Broadway productions like Chicago and Goodtime Charley. We’re sure he would have continued his stage appearance if not for his slowly declining health and fitness condition.

Friends From The Theater World

Samantha Womack who used to be known as Samantha Janus is a very popular British actress. She rose to fame through the British sitcom entitled, Game On. Samantha met Patrick Swayze when they both worked together in the production, Guys and Dolls. The two got along well with each other and you can see how they were not shy to hug in front of the cameras. Samantha will be appearing in an upcoming British series entitled, Silent Witness.

Going On A Night Out

Patrick Swayze was not drowning himself with just working for he also knew how to let loose and go on a night out from time to time. The photo above shows Patrick Swayze attending the after-party of the play, A Moon for the Misbegotten, which starred actor Kevin Spacey. Swayze looked very good when he was photographed at the event and no one would have ever guessed that he was going to have some serious health problems less than a year later.

Appearing On Stage With His Wife

Patrick Swayze had always cherished and given importance to his wife Lisa Niemi. The two were just a perfect pair and if he hadn’t succumbed to cancer, we’re sure the two would still be together until today. Both of them were in the same industry so it was nice to see them work together. Back in 2007, they went on stage together during the Costume Designers Guild Awards. Both of them were aging quite gracefully at that time.

The SAG Awards Tribute

Patrick Swayze had such a fruitful career and we’re sure he was very proud of what he was able to achieve through the years. He had a ton of notable performances throughout his entire acting career and in all his modesty, he had turned himself into a Hollywood legend. Back in January 2010, the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards had an In Memoriam segment that paid tribute to the late actor. Swayze’s legacy will never be forgotten.

Real Life Ghost?

Even after Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009, there were still some bizarre things that happened years later. For instance, there had been reports in 2012 saying that Swayze was checked into a hospital. This shocked a lot of people because Swayze had been dead for years already. ‘The Mandela Effect’ would tend to suggest that there just might be an alternate universe where Swayze is still alive. If ever some people would still claim on seeing him, then it would just be like his movie, Ghost.

The Other Swayze

Patrick Swayze was not the only member in his family who pursued acting for he also has a brother who’s been working in the same industry. Don Swayze is his brother who has been doing acting but he just didn’t get to become a big star. Don is also proof that dancing is in their DNA as can be seen in one of his first roles as a dancer in the movie, Urban Cowboy. Don’s more recent roles are in shows like Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

Continuing With Acting Despite His Health Battles

When Patrick Swayze was filming for the show, The Beast, he was already aware of his pancreatic cancer but he chose to continue working even while undergoing treatment. Of course, Lisa was very worried that her husband still worked so she made sure to always visit him on set. Lisa actually directed her husband in one episode of the said show and she was so amazed by how good and professional her husband was doing despite the physical struggles he was going through.

Partners In Life

Patrick and Lisa never really could’ve imagined a life without each other in it. The couple always did a lot of things together may it be in their careers or their personal life. Sadly, the two were never really successful when it came to pregnancy and starting a family. Although, they never let that setback affect their relationship in any way and they both just decided to focus on each other and their career.

He Got It From His Momma

Dancing ran in Patrick Swayze’s DNA because his mother, Patsy Swayze, was a very successful dancer and choreographer. She taught her kids how to dance and the discipline that went with it. She was able to choreograph for movies like Liar’s Moon, Urban Cowboy, and Hope Floats. She loved her children so much and you can imagine how heartbroken she was when Patrick passed away before she did. A stroke ended Patsy’s life in 2013 around four years after Patrick’s death.

He Had A Long Lost Son?

A man named Jason Whittle made numerous headlines when he claimed that Patrick Swayze was actually his father. His mother was Bonnie Kay and she apparently had a one-night-stand with Mr. Swayze. Such claims happened after Swayze’s death so people have been skeptical, thinking that Whittle is after the fortune Swayze had left behind. There was never a confirmation about a DNA test so we still can’t be sure if Whittle is telling the truth.

Swayze in King Solomon’s Mines

Swayze returned to romance in 2004, when he played the adventurer, Allan Quatermain, in the screen adaptation of King Solomon’s Mines. It was a role he took on after his epic portrayal in North and South. He worked with Steve Boyum, the film director, to flesh out the characters of the film. The story was shaped around the African tribes and the belief that they had the power of a hidden treasure. Swayze then did a cameo appearance as a dance instructor in the Dirty Dancing prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. All the while, his savings account was growing with his reputation.

Something Was Wrong

Filming of the pilot episode of The Beast had only just been concluded when Swayze suffered a burning sensation in his abdominal region, later attributed to his bile ducts being blocked. It was late December in 2007. By mid-January, three weeks later, Swayze received the dreaded diagnosis— he had stage four pancreatic cancer. He began treatment at Stanford University Medical Center and even took experimental medications in the hopes of cutting off the tumor’s blood supply.

Swayze’s Last Role

Swayze’s final role was in The Beast, the A&E FBI drama where he played the part of FBI agent Charles Barker. Soon after shooting the pilot episode of the show in Chicago, he found out he was afflicted by the dreaded disease. He continued filming while receiving the required treatment. The show premiered on January 15, 2009. Swayze was unable to promote the show due to his declining health. Unfortunately, poor ratings led to its cancellation after one season.

A Brave Man, An Even Braver Actor

It takes a strong person to brave a dreaded disease and it takes an even stronger person to brave the pain without painkillers. Swayze refused to take his painkillers during the shooting of the episodes of The Beast, believing that it will help his character have an edge. He said that you can’t do drugs when you’re shooting. He worked about 12 hours a day with no rest on weekends because of his intense treatment at the medical center.

Swayze’s Surgery

In May 2008, tabloids reported that Swayze had gone through surgery for the removal of a portion of his stomach following the spread of cancer. It was said that Swayze revised and rewrote his will, transferring his assets to his wife. His life expectancy was determined to be mere weeks. But six months afterward, he said to a reporter that he’s a miracle and he doesn’t know why. For a moment, Swayze seemed to be winning his battle with his own beast.

Swayze’s Appearance for Stand Up to Cancer

Swayze took to NBC, CBS, and ABC to enlist their help in reaching out to the public for the cause Stand Up to Cancer, by means of financial support. In his moving speech, he said that he dreamed that one day the dreaded disease would not be impossible to cure. He talked about his dream that cancer will no longer mean a life of fear and hopelessness. The public was moved to donate to the charity.

Barbara Walters Interviews Swayze

In January 2009, an interview of Patrick Swayze by Barbara Walters was aired. During the talk, Swayze confided that he did have a small tumor that was found in the liver, but he asked that Walters report to the media that he was battling it successfully. When asked by Walters whether he was administering alternative treatment methods or holistic medications, Swayze mentioned that he was administering Chinese herbal concoctions. However, he later voiced his opposition to the use of “alternative therapies” with unsupported claims.

Swayze’s Hospitalization

Swayze was taken to the hospital with pneumonia on January 9th, 2009. Executives of the A&E Network accounted for his hospitalization. The filming of The Beast’s full season—all of its 13 episodes—was already complete by this time. It was said that the pneumonia was a result of the chemotherapy complications that the legendary actor was going through. On January 16th, the hospital released him to rest with his wife and family at home.

His Bad Habit

This photo of Swayze was taken months before his death. He looked gaunt and his facial features were not like how we used to see them. Seen here puffing a cigarette, he admitted that his habit of heavy smoking may have contributed to the aggravation of the disease. He once revealed that he smoked approximately 60 cigarettes in a single day! Who knows how much longer the world could have enjoyed Patrick Swayze had he not have this toxic habit!

The Death of a Star

On September 14th, 2009, Swayze breathed his last with his family all around him. He was 57 years old and it was 20 months since the dreaded diagnosis. Swayze’s publicist later confirmed through CNN that the cause of his death was pancreatic cancer. The legendary actor/dancer’s adoring fans were deeply heartbroken but understood the circumstances. Swayze’s ashes were scattered over his ranch in New Mexico.