Pamela Sitt,
Sep 14, 2009
Actor Patrick Swayze has died after a very public battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.
Swayze's publicist said Monday that he died with his family at his side, including longtime wife Lisa Niemi.
In the 20 months since Swayze's cancer diagnosis, fans watched the once-rugged actor and dancer grow frail but remain upbeat as he fought the disease. He continued working on his A&E series The Beast while undergoing chemotherapy.
Swayze's wife of 32 years remained steadfastly by his side as he battled grim odds. Pancreatic cancer has a 5 percent survival rate within five years of diagnosis.
For a legion of teenage girls who came of age in the 1980s, Swayze will forever be remembered as Johnny Castle from the 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing. Other enduring performances include his roles in Ghost, The Outsiders and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
