Beloved actor Patrick Swayze would have turned 62 today.
It’s hard to believe that it has already been five years since the world lost Patrick Swayze.
The beloved actor, who lost his two-year battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, would have turned 62 today.
Long remembered for his role as Johnny Castle, the dancing instructor from the wrong side of the tracks in the coming-of-age classic Dirty Dancing, his celebrity rose further with roles in the Oscar-winning movie Ghost and cult favourite Point Break.
Just three months after Patrick’s death, Lisa Niemi, told talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey that she knew her husband would have wanted her to go on with her life. And earlier this year, the now 57-year-old walked down the aisle for the second time and married her new love, jeweller Albert DePrisco, 58.
On the day that Patrick would have been celebrating his birthday, we take a look back at his life in pictures.
Actor Patrick Swayze lost his two-year battle with pancreatic cancer when he was 57.
Patrick Swayze with good friend Brooke Shields pictured together in 1986.
Swayze had his major breakthrough aged 35 as Johnny Castle, the dancing instructor from the wrong side of the tracks in the coming-of-age classic Dirty Dancing.
His celebrity rose further with roles in the Oscar-winning movie Ghost and cult favourite Point Break.
In 1991 Swayze was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
Patrick’s last major interview was with veteran reporter Barbara Walters, where Swayze indicated he had come to terms with his prognosis.
Patrick Swayze starred along side Liam Neeson and in the film ‘Next Of Kin’, 1989.
Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, spoke to Oprah Winfrey less than three months after her husband’s death and revealed her husband would have wanted her to go on with her life.
Swayze’s mother Patsy was a dancer and the naturally athletic Patrick soon excelled at it, too (he’s pictured here in costume aged 15 in 1967). He trained as a ballet dancer but found his feet in film after scoring his first role in 1979, a minor part in the roller disco film Skatetown U.S.A.
