Patrick Swayze - An Impressive Acting Career

Leading Man Swayze's Newest Role is FBI Veteran in The Beast

Jan 7, 2009 Christine Nyholm

Patrick Swayze is best known for his leading man roles in Dirty Dancing and Ghost. His newest project is The Beast, a dramatic series about an FBI agent on A&E TV.

Patrick Swayze is starring in The Beast, the new A&E Drama about a veteran FBI agent who mentors a rookie. Swayze’s character, Charles Barkley, is the grizzled veteran who takes the inexperienced rookie (Travis Fimmel) under his wing and teaches him how life really works on the streets. People were surprised to hear that Swayze took on the grueling schedule of a television series so soon after his diagnoses of pancreatic cancer, which he talked to Barbara Walters about in an honest interview airing on ABC January 7, 2009.

Patrick Swayze Three Golden Globe Nominations

Patrick Swayze is a three time Golden Globe nominated actor who is best known for his leading man roles in Ghost and Dirty Dancing. His handsome looks, talent and charm have earned him the status of a pop culture icon.

Swayze for nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as a dance instructor, Johnny Castle, in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing opposite Jennifer Gray. In Dirty Dancing, Swayze was recognized for his talent as a singer/songwriter. His hit single, She’s Like the Wind, quickly rose to number three on the pop charts and was soon number one in many countries. Swayze also contributed to the Next of Kin soundtrack with Brothers, a song he co-wrote and performed with Larry Gatlin in 1989.

In 1990, Swayze appeared was the romantic lead opposite Demi Moore in Ghost, which was one of the top grossing films of the year.

Swayze also earn a Golden Globe nomination for his charming 1996 performance as Vida Boheme alongside Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo in the universal Pictures hit To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

Patrick Swayze Films

Swayze’s impressive body of work includes:

Dirty Dancing
Ghost
To Wan Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
JUMP
Keeping Mum
ICON
One Last Dance
Donnie Darko
Three Wishes
Black Dog,
Loving Lulu
Waking up in Reno
The Green Dragon
The Outsiders
Uncommon Valor
Grandview USA
Red Dawn: Youngblood
Steel Dawn; Road House
Next of Kin
North and South
North and South; Book II

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze, 56, grew up in Houston, Texas and was offered both athletic and dance scholarships when he graduated from high school. His father encouraged his athletic side. Swayze excelled in football, gymnastics, diving and track. Swayze also started acting while in high school. His first dancing instructor was his mother.

Swayze attended San Jacinto College before touring with Disney on Parade. After a year on the road he moved to New York to study with the Harkness Ballet Company and then the Joffrey Ballet. Swayze landed a dancing role on Broadway in Goodtime Charlie, which was followed by the lead in the Broadway production of Grease. Critic’s support from Grease encouraged his move to Hollywood to pursue a film career.

Swayze currently lives on a ranch outside of Los Angeles with Lisa, his wife of 30 years.

The Beast Stars Patrick Swayze on A&E

Actor Patrick Swayze dead of pancreatic cancer at age 57

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The Beast