September 2009

Patrick Swayze, the actor in the iconic film Dirty Dancing and actor in Ghost has died of pancreatic cancer. Dirty Dancing was a film I was introduced as a child and loved. This particular song always jumps in to my mind when I hear someone mention Dirty Dancing:

So many people have had their first dance at their weddings to this song. Indeed both the film and music have inspired a great number of people.

Believe it or not, I only recently saw the film Ghost on the bbc, I instantly loved it. Fantastic idea, good script and brilliant acting. (It also stared my faviourate comedian/actor/author Whoopi Goldberg.)

The tributes have been coming in from his colleagues in the industry:

Jennifer Grey, who co-starred with Swayze in Dirty Dancing led the tributes, releasing a statement that said: “Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace.

“Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart. He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.”
(from: Guardian, Last accessed: 15th September 09)

And:

Whoopi Goldberg, who also appeared in Ghost, said: “Patrick was a really good man, a funny man and one to whom I owe much that I can’t ever repay. I believe in Ghost’s message, so he’ll always be near.”
(from: Guardian, Last accessed: 15th September 09)

It was also interesting to read:

The 1990 film Ghost cemented Swayze as a favourite. It was an even bigger hit than Dirty Dancing, with a domestic box office take of more than $217m, and $505m around the world.
(from: Guardian, Last accessed: 15th September 09)

Who’d of thought?

So…
R.I.P Patrick.

Antony x