Patrick Swayze

Current Role

Swayze returned to the stage in 2003 as Billy Flynn in the Broadway Production of Chicago with great success. He came to the cast of the classic musical Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre in July 2006, which was the first London production of the show for 23 years. After two extensions to his run he starred in the show until November 25th 2006.

Early Life

Patrick was born in Houston, Texas on August 18th 1952 to Jesse Wayne Swayze and Patricia Yvonne Helen Karnes. He attended Oak Forest Elementary School, Black Middle School, and Waltrip High School in Houston. As his mother was a choreographer, Patrick was introduced to performing arts from an early age and he had an early passion for ballet. In his teenage years he became a keen athlete, excelling at gymnastics and football. This led him to gain an athletics scholarship at Sam Jacinto College in Houston. However, Patrick decided to drop out of college after two years study to pursue a performance career, attending the Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools in New York. He married Lisa Niemi, who was a former dance student of his mother, on June 12 1975.

Career Highlights

Patrick's first professional dancing job was with the Disney on Parade ice show before he began to concentrate more on acting. He made his Broadway debut with the 1976 production of Goodtime Charlie and went on to appear in stage productions of West Side Story and Grease.

Patrick's first film role came in 1979 in the musical comedy Skatetown, U.S.A. He then built his acting C.V. through a number of television film appearances, such as in M.A.S.H and The Renegades, as well as featuring in The Outsiders in 1983, where he was cast alongside Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and Emilio Estevez.

Dirty Dancing was the film that effectively cemented Patrick Swayze's position as a major Hollywood star and heart throb in 1987. In this role he scored his first major hit as well as gaining a Golden Globe nomination. After this he starred in films such as Tiger Warsaw and Next of Kin, before having another major hit in 1990, when he starred alongside Demi Moore in the romantic drama Ghost. He was again nominated for a Golden Globe award in this role. Around this time Patrick was really at the pinnacle of his career, affirmed by being voted Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine and being nominated for Most Desirable Male at the 1991 MTV Music Awards.

Battling a drink problem made much of the 1990's tough for Patrick, and he struggled to revisit the success of earlier films until he gained another Golden Globe nomination for playing a drag Queen in the comedy Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar! in 1995.

Interesting Facts

• Was offerred a rumoured $6m to reprise his role of Johnny Castle though turned it down
• Patrick owns a 5 acre ranch called Rancho Bizzaro
• Patrick Swayze shares a birthday with Edward Norton and Robert Redford

Awards

• BMI Film and TV Award
• Numerous Golden Globe nominations
• Star on the Walk of Fame, Hollywood
• MTV Music Award nomination