Biography for
Patrick Swayze More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

18 August 1952, Houston, Texas, USA

Birth Name

Patrick Wayne Swayze

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

His mother is choreographer Patsy Swayze, owner of a dance school in Houston, where Patrick was also a student. His father was Jesse Wayne Swayze, who passed away in 1982. He graduated from Waltrip High School in Houston, Texas and attended San Jacinto College. 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 as "Ace" in Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979). Eight years later, after considerable movie and television work, including choreography for Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), he received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as dance instructor "Johnny Castle" in the smash hit Dirty Dancing (1987). He received a second nomination for his portrayal of the ghost "Sam Wheat" in another box office champion, Ghost (1990). He was a solidly established box office star throughout the nineties. In December 2003, he returned to Broadway as a replacement for the lead role of "Billy Flynn" in the acclaimed revival of Kander & Ebb's musical "Chicago". The production also went on tour in several cities of the US, including Los Angeles. In January 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is optimistic about his recovery, and he continues to work on projects.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan

Spouse

Lisa Niemi

(12 June 1975 - present)

Trade Mark

His half salute.

Trivia

Broke his leg when he fell off a horse while filming Letters from a Killer (1998). [9 May 1997]

He owns a five-acre spread called Rancho Bizarro outside of Los Angeles.

Older brother of Don Swayze.

Recovering alcoholic.

At the age of 19, he met his wife Lisa, then 15 years old, who attended dance lessons with Patsy Swayze.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991]

Began his career as a dancer appearing in Disney On Parade as Prince Charming.

Son of choreographer Patsy Swayze

He was flying solo in his twin-engine Cessna from California to Las Vegas when he developed a mechanical problem and decided to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road near a housing complex in the small community of Prescott Valley in northern Arizona. There were no injuries. Fire department and sheriff's department officials said the plane had a damaged wing and that when they arrived on the scene, they could find no one. It later emerged that Patrick had hitched a ride from a passing vehicle and was taken to a nearby house, where he telephoned authorities. [2000]

Is part Apache.

Father Jesse Wayne Swayze died of a heart attack in 1982.

Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas.

Was reportedly offered $6,000,000 to reprise his role of Johnny Castle in a sequel to Dirty Dancing (1987) but turned it down.

Attended St Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School and Black Middle School in Houston, Texas.

Graduated from S.P. Waltrip High School in Houston, Texas, in 1971. Other graduates from this high school include Shelley Duvall and wrestler Mark Calaway (aka The Undertaker).

Called 'King of the Sleepers" for a brief period, after the unexpected success of Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990).

Stayed at the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs while filming Tall Tale (1995). His picture and autograph hang in the main lobby.

Immortalized in the song "(Let's Have) A Patrick Swayze Christmas" from the "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988).

Was approached to star in Predator 2 (1990) but was unable to commit due to scheduling conflicts. Danny Glover was cast instead.

Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008 after falling ill in the previous month.

His father was a chemical plant engineer in Houston, Texas.

In high school, excelled at football and gymnastics and won an athletic scholarship to college.

Is a distant cousin of actor William Holden.

Was considered for the role of Howard Saint in The Punisher (2004).

In an interview with Barbara Walters in January 2009, Swayze acknowledged that his history as a recovering alcoholic and heavy cigarette smoker may have contributed to his illness.

Hospitalized with pneumonia in January 2009.

Originally cast in Kurt Russell's role in Tango & Cash (1989), but pulled out to make Road House (1989).

Personal Quotes

Good-looking people turn me off. Myself included.

I believe in a higher power. I've studied Eastern philosophies, and I've studied the Koran. We've devalued everything worth believing in. Now we're tearing into religion. A line should be drawn. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and The Da Vinci Code (2006) borders on that. I was glued to the book, but afterwards I thought, "h my Lord, now we're tearing into God and our faith". Are we going to be turning into a reality show, too? I certainly hope not.

[in 2004, about his drinking] I made a conscious decision to break away from big films when I got alcohol out of my life. I had been sucked into the blockbuster, box-office mentality and it was destroying my sense of purpose in life. The loneliness of fame was messing with my head. Once you've been famous for a while and told your story, it can sound like a lie. You don't know what's true. It sounds like an article someone wrote rather than the essence of who you are.

I have a great deal of faith in faith; if you believe something strongly enough, it becomes true for you. I would like to believe that my father is right here with me in this room and that he's my guardian angel, that there's life after death -- because if there isn't, why are we here? I don't believe that just flesh and bones can contain from the point of view of physics this very real recorded energy inside of us. Whether it's true or not, we need to believe it.

[On having achieved some success with various anti-cancer treatments] I'm a miracle, dude.

I'm still fine to work, I haven't changed - oh, I have changed, what am I saying? It's a battle-zone I go through. Chemo, no matter how you cut it, is hell on wheels.

[On accepting a continuing role in the series "The Beast" (2009)] How do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you're a dead man? You go to work.

Five years is pretty wishful thinking ... two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it. (January 2009)

My big regret is the physical damage I've done to my body. I can do almost anything physically and I used to believe I was invincible, breaking bones over and over, playing football, doing gymnastics, diving, ballet, doing my own stunts, kick boxing, staging fights ... It all seems a little stupid to me now.

Where Are They Now

(February 2004) Dancing instructor in the "prequel" Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004).

(March 2008) Reveals that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January and is receiving treatment, but is continuing to work on projects.

(May 2008) Continuing cancer treatment. Told the press, "I am continuing treatment at Stanford [University Medical Center near San Francisco] and the great news is I continue to respond well." Was photographed in public with his wife at a basketball game, watching the Los Angeles Lakers play the San Antonio Spurs in Los Angeles.

(February 2009) Planning to write his memoir, with his wife, Lisa Niemi, with a release date in the Autumn.

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