Patrick Swayze

On 12th June, 1975, he married actor-director Lisa Niemi, after a courtship of about five years. Lisa learnt dancing from Patrick’s mother Patsy Swayze, and this is how the two encountered each other.

His father’s death impacted him so much that he sought refuge in alcohol and his sister’s death furthered this addiction. Later, he undertook rehabilitation to overcome his addiction. He got acquainted to Buddhism and even took ‘EST Training’, underwent ‘Scientology’ and also practised ‘Transcendental Meditation’.

In 2008, he was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer and in spite of the disease; this talented actor continued his acting career.

He was born to Jesse Wayne Swayze and Patsy Swayze on 18th August, 1952, in Houston, Texas. His father was a draftsman for chemical plant engineering and his mother ran a dancing school in Houston. He has four siblings named Don Swayze, Sean Kyle, Vickie Lynn and Bambi and he was the second Swayze child.

He spent his early life in Oak Forest, Houston, and received education from ‘St. Rose of Lima Catholic School’, ‘Oak Forest Elementary School’, ‘Black Middle School’ and ‘Waltrip High School’. He was engaged in many extra curriculum activities such as swimming, gymnastics, football and dancing.

He got trained in gymnastics at ‘San Jacinto College’ and in 1972, he travelled to New York and got dance training at institutes like ‘Harkness Ballet School’ and ‘Joffrey Ballet School’. His first dance performance as a professional was for the ‘Disney on Parade’ event.

He made his debut in the Broadway with musical entitled ‘Grease’. In 1979, he got his first break in the big screen with the movie ‘Skatetown, U.S.A.’, which was a comedy film.

In 1981, he featured in a television show named ‘Blood Brothers’ in the episode entitled ‘MASH’. The same year, he also worked in the television drama film ‘Return of the Rebels’.

His role in the 1983 film ‘The Outsiders’ earned him recognition and the following year, he also appeared in the ‘Red Dawn’. The following year, he worked in the movie ‘Grandview U.S.A.’.

In 1985, he appeared in the TV miniseries ‘North and South’ and this became a milestone in his acting career. The following year, he starred in the drama film ‘Youngblood’.

The film which established him in the film industry was ‘Dirty Dancing’, released in 1987, where he portrayed a dance trainer named Johnny Castle. The movie met with unexpected success and became an immediate hit.

This versatile actor’s role in the movie ‘The Outsiders’ made him known to Hollywood. However, the film which marked his place in the film industry is ‘Dirty Dancing’ where he played the role of a dance trainer. As he was always passionate about dancing, he did justice to the role. The film garnered huge profits and it sold one million video copies till 2009, which is a record in itself.