Patrick Swayze - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is that of the unforgettable American actor, singer and dancer Patrick Swayze, who performed brilliantly in several classic films, such as: “Dirty Dancing” (1987), character “Johnny Castle”; “Road House” (1989), character “Dalton”; “Ghost” (1990), character “Sam Wheat”; “One Last Dance” (2003), character “Sam Wheat”; “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (2004), character “Johnny Castle”, among others.

Today, September 14, marks exactly fifteen years since Patrick Swayze died of cancer. The actor was nominated for several awards but never won, not even a posthumous lifetime achievement award.

British biographer and journalist Wendy Leigh (1951-2016) wrote the biography of Patrick Swayze: “Patrick Swayze: One Last Dance” (2009) which tells the story of childhood abuse, alcoholism, success and death from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57.

Patrick Swayze has his star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, 7021 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Motion Picture category.

Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952, in Houston, Texas, United States, and died on September 14, 2009, in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 57.

The actor was married to American actress Lisa Anne Haapaniemi, known as Lisa Niemi (1956-) from 1952 to 2009. They met at the dance school of  Yvonne Helen Patsy Swayze (1927-2013), Patrick’s mother. The couple had no children.