Patrick Swayze, died at age 57 after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The actor was famed for his dancing skills in the movie “Dirty Dancing.” A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad-boy Johnny Castle in that movie. In 1990, he also starred opposite Demi Moore in “Ghost.”
Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer.
“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” said a statement released by his publicist, Annett Wolf.
Despite having a painful illness, Swayze veered off taking painkillers particularly because he had kept working despite the diagnosis and didn’t want the medication affect his acting. He also recognized the seriousness of the disease.
During an interview with Barbara Walters in early 2009, Swayze calculates that he has about 2 years to live.
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