Patrick Swayze Biography

Fast Facts

• After being diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2008, he appeared on a simulcast telethon titled "Stand Up to Cancer" in September 2008 where he answered donation phone calls and spoke with fellow cancer patients about his personal struggle
• Named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 1991
• Interested in dance mostly impart to having a dance instructor for a mother, he went on to study gymnastics at San Jacinto College for two years in his native Houston before moving to New York City to complete his studies with the Joffrey Ballet
• Quote: "Facing your own mortality is the quickest way possible to find out what you're made of․ It strips away all the bull․․․and exposes every part of you--your strengths and weaknesses, your sense of self․ Your soul․ It also leads you to confront life's hardest questions․"
• Quote: "Good-looking people turn me off․ Myself included․"
• Twenty months after being diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer, he passed away in 2009 at the age of 57
• After completing professional dance training in New York City, his first big break came in the late '70s after landing a replacement role on the Broadway production of Grease, which allowed for film and television roles to follow not long after
• Struggled to branch out with more dramatic roles following "Dirty Dancing" and began to be typecast in several big budget flops during the late '80s, but finally struck gold with 1990's "Ghost"
• Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999
• Reportedly offered Danny Glover's role in "Predator 2" but could not commit due to scheduling conflicts