Patrick Swayze, aged 57, died of pancreatic cancer on 14 Sep

Film and stage star Patrick Swayze died, aged 57 years old, of pancreatic cancer on 14 Sep 2009. The actor was first diagnosed with the illness in Jan 2008, and has been battling with the cancer for the last 20 months. The actor worked on a new TV show, called the 'Beast' while receiving treatment, which premiered in Jan 2009.

Swayze's first appeared on Broadway as a dancer in the show 'Goodtime Charley,' and later became a replacement 'Danny Zuko' in the original production of 'Grease.' He did not appear on Broadway again until he played �Billy Flynn' in the long running musical 'Chicago' from 15 - 28 Dec 2003. He made his London West End d�but in the musical 'Guys and Dolls' as 'Nathan Detroit' on 27 Jul 2006.

It is on screen that Swayze was to have his success and become a household name to millions. His most famous role was as dance instructor 'Johnny Castle' in the 1987 film 'Dirty Dancing,' for which he received his first Golden Globe nomination. He was to be nominated twice more for the films 'Ghost' (1990) and 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar' (1995).

He made his film debut in the roller disco movie 'Skatetown, U.S.A.' (1979), and though he started his career in dance -both stage and film - he also starred in action movies, the first of which was 'Red Dawn' playing the lead role of 'Jed.' He also appeared in drama's, such as the 'City of Joy' (1992) in which he starred as the American Doctor 'Max Lowe' who spends his life, at first reluctantly, running a clinic for the poor in Calcutta.

The highlight of his television career may well be his role as 'Orry Main' in the mini-series 'North and South,' set in the period of the American Civil War.

Patrick Swayze was born in Houston, Texas, on 18 Aug 1952. His mother, Patricia Yvonne Helen, was a dancer, choreographer and dance instructor. As a child he took dancing lessons, including ballet, for which he was bullied by other children, as a result of this he also enrolled in self-defence classes.

As a student he enjoyed both dance and athletics, and was to excel in both. After college he moved to New York to further his study of dance and became a member of the Eliot Feld Ballet. It was not long before he made his Broadway debut in 'Goodtime Charley' (1975), which marked the beginning of his career.

Swayze married his childhood sweetheart Lisa Niemi in 1975. The couple first met in 1970 when Niemi, who was then 14 years old, began taking lessons from Patrick Swayze's mother. The couple had no children. Swayze's publicist, Annett Wolf, said the star died "with family at his side."