'Dirty Dancing' star Patrick Swayze passes away
Sara Carr
Issue date: 9/22/09 Section: Arts & Society
Not only did the film fare well, but the film's soundtrack also generated three Billboard hits, "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," "Hungry Eyes," and "She's Like the Wind," which Swayze co-wrote and performed the lead vocals.
Swayze became not only the mold for all other male romantic leads, but he undeniably influenced many other dance-centric romances over the years as well. Additionally, his prowess on the dance floor impressed movie audiences so much that the film markedly raised the attendance in dance courses in the years after its release.
Swayze surpassed the success of "Dirty Dancing" two years later in the supernatural romance film "Ghost," costarring Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg (who would win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress).
In the film, Swayze stars as Sam Wheaton, a man living a comfortable life with girlfriend, Molly (Moore), in New York City. When he is murdered by an armed thief in the street, he roams the city as a ghost searching for his killer while protecting his grieving girlfriend and forming an unlikely friendship with Oda Mae Brown, a disgruntled medium played Goldberg, who is the only person who can hear him.
The film would go on to boast a $505 million box-office take and the famous "pottery" scene would be parodied many times over. The film is now being adapted into a musical stage production to open in London's West End in Spring 2010.
In his last acting performance, he played the lead, Charles Barker, in the television series "The Beast." In the show he is an FBI agent paired with a young partner (Travis Fimmel) who uses controversial tactics in order to get the bad guys. His character is also presented to have a dark past and may be a rogue officer.
Though the series only had the chance to film one season, Swayze's performance was a major success with critics, many of them comparing him to Clint Eastwood. It would later be revealed that he opted not to take his prescribed pain medications during filming so as not to weigh down his performance.
Swayze fought his battle with cancer valiantly and courageously. Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, often left undetected until its advanced stages, claiming the lives of 75 percent of those diagnosed with the disease.
Swayze became not only the mold for all other male romantic leads, but he undeniably influenced many other dance-centric romances over the years as well. Additionally, his prowess on the dance floor impressed movie audiences so much that the film markedly raised the attendance in dance courses in the years after its release.
Swayze surpassed the success of "Dirty Dancing" two years later in the supernatural romance film "Ghost," costarring Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg (who would win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress).
In the film, Swayze stars as Sam Wheaton, a man living a comfortable life with girlfriend, Molly (Moore), in New York City. When he is murdered by an armed thief in the street, he roams the city as a ghost searching for his killer while protecting his grieving girlfriend and forming an unlikely friendship with Oda Mae Brown, a disgruntled medium played Goldberg, who is the only person who can hear him.
The film would go on to boast a $505 million box-office take and the famous "pottery" scene would be parodied many times over. The film is now being adapted into a musical stage production to open in London's West End in Spring 2010.
In his last acting performance, he played the lead, Charles Barker, in the television series "The Beast." In the show he is an FBI agent paired with a young partner (Travis Fimmel) who uses controversial tactics in order to get the bad guys. His character is also presented to have a dark past and may be a rogue officer.
Though the series only had the chance to film one season, Swayze's performance was a major success with critics, many of them comparing him to Clint Eastwood. It would later be revealed that he opted not to take his prescribed pain medications during filming so as not to weigh down his performance.
Swayze fought his battle with cancer valiantly and courageously. Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, often left undetected until its advanced stages, claiming the lives of 75 percent of those diagnosed with the disease.
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