Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)

Posted: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 by Travis Cody in
13

Patrick Swayze died yesterday from pancreatic cancer. He was 57.

I'd be lying if I said I thought Mr Swayze was a great actor. He was servicable. I was generally entertained by the movies in which he appeared.

I first became aware of him from his role as Darrel Curtis in The Outsiders, and then as Jed Eckert in Red Dawn. Mr Swayze starred in two iconic and surprising box office hits. He played Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing, and then Sam Wheat in Ghost. In between those films he starred as Dalton in Road House.

Mr Swayze was also a singer and songwriter. He had a #1 hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with She's Like the Wind, a song he co-wrote with Stacy Widelitz. Mr Swayze sang the song on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. The song also hit #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. His early training as a dancer won him the role of Danny Zuko in Grease on Broadway.

I liked Patrick Swayze (18 August 1952 - 14 September 2009). And I hate cancer.

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous says:
    15 September, 2009 01:14

    I hadn't heard he died until I read this post. I knew it was just a matter of time, but it is never a good time to die, especially of cancer. I actually love Dirty Dancing. A perfect chick flick. Rest well, Patrick.

  1. Terra Shield says:
    15 September, 2009 01:23

    I had no idea... this is one actor I'm quite familiar with, so it did have some sort of effect on me.

  1. Anonymous says:
    15 September, 2009 05:12

    I REALLY HATE CANCER, ESPECIALLY PANCREATIC... it is such an insidious disease. Most of the time you don't experience symptoms until it's in late stages. It is the most lethal form as well --kills quickly. I lost my father to this disease.

    Hoping Mr. Swayze's brave battle raises awareness of this dreaded disease.

  1. Anonymous says:
    15 September, 2009 05:13

    sorry to soapbox...

  1. Mike Golch says:
    15 September, 2009 10:01

    May He rest in Peace.

  1. Linda says:
    15 September, 2009 10:16

    I liked him, too, and I'm sorry that he lost this battle though he fought it very, very well.

    He certainly wasn't anywhere near old enough for his life to have ended, though - especially in such a manner as a nasty, cruel cancer as this one.

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    15 September, 2009 11:07

    I hadn't heard this until now. I was a bit busy yesterday.

    I loved him in Dirty Dancing.
    Wonderful tribute, Travis.

  1. Akelamalu says:
    15 September, 2009 11:23

    Oh boy what a dancer he was! Dirty Dancing is my most favourite film ever, I can watch it time and time again, in fact I do!

    I feel so sorry for his wife and family. Cancer is a Bastard! Pardon my French Trav.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    15 September, 2009 19:28

    Barb: When I heard the type of cancer, I knew it was inevitable. It's still a shame though.

    Terra: Same here.

    Lois: I'm sorry about your dad. And you may shout from that soapbox as loudly as you like.

    Mike: Indeed.

    Linda: Some performers are just likable.

    Mimi: I'm glad things went well.

    Akelamalu: I usually stop on that movie when I'm flipping channels.

  1. Julia Phillips Smith says:
    15 September, 2009 20:25

    My father-in-law died from pancreatic cancer, so I was waiting for the other shoe to drop since Patrick Swayze announced his cancer battle.

    He was much admired by me after I fell for his performance as Orry Main in the miniseries North and South. I'm sure you can imagine that I jumped for joy when I discovered he was a dancer.

    One of my favorite Saturday Night Live episodes aired in 1990 which he hosted. We've still got it on videotape. There was a spoof of Chippendale dancers, and a completely hilarious musical sketch where he and Dana Carvey competed as Latino singers to Guantanamera ('Two tons of fan mail, yes I get two tons of fan mail'.)

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    16 September, 2009 02:14

    Travis, I hate cancer too!
    Rest in peace Patrick.
    <><

  1. Debra says:
    16 September, 2009 06:05

    I was so very saddened to hear of his passing. He seemed like a really nice guy who loved his wife. Rare for Hollywood types.
    Hopefully they will soon make some progress with this lethal form of cancer.

  1. Julie says:
    18 September, 2009 19:15

    I liked him in several roles but I also hate cancer. This form grabbed my grandpa in less then 6 months after his diagnosis. Thanks for posting the clip of Patrick's song...i always liked it.

Post a Comment