- Began his career as a dancer appearing in Disneyland's parades as Prince Charming from Cinderella (1950). One of the many Cinderellas he danced with was Michelle Pfeiffer.
- Was reportedly offered $6,000,000 to reprise his role of Johnny Castle in a sequel to Dirty Dancing (1987), which he turned down.
- At age 19, he met his wife Lisa Niemi, then 15 years old, who attended dance lessons with his mother, Patsy Swayze.
- Trained in New York as a dancer with the Harkness and Joffrey ballet schools. In 2004, he appeared as the dancing instructor in the "prequel" Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004).
- In an interview with Barbara Walters in January 2009, Swayze acknowledged that his history as a recovering alcoholic and heavy cigarette smoker may have contributed to his illness. He reportedly once admitted to smoking 60 cigarettes a day.
- Originally cast in Kurt Russell's role in Tango & Cash (1989), but pulled out to make Road House (1989).
- He appeared in the music video "Rosanna" by the rock band TOTO, as a dancer in a red letterman's jacket, alongside his Dirty Dancing (1987) co-star, Cynthia Rhodes (1982).
- Swayze owned a five-acre spread called 'Rancho Bizarro' in Sylmar, Los Angeles. He died there on September 14, 2009, aged 57, following a well-publicized battle with pancreatic cancer.
- Replaced Kevin Sorbo as the lead role in Black Dog (1998), after Kevin had to quit a week into filming due to an aneurysm in his shoulder.
- In 1991, he was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. The same year, he was also named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive".
- Stayed at the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, while filming Tall Tale (1995). His picture and autograph hang in the main lobby.
- He broke both legs after falling from a horse while filming the crime drama Letters from a Killer (1998). (May 1997)
- He was flying solo in his twin-engine Cessna from California to Las Vegas when he developed a mechanical problem and decided to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road near a housing complex in the small community of Prescott Valley in northern Arizona. There were no injuries. Fire department and sheriff's department officials said the plane had a damaged wing and that when they arrived on the scene, they could find no one. It later emerged that Patrick had hitched a ride from a passing vehicle and was taken to a nearby house, where he telephoned authorities. (2000)
- Was approached to star in Predator 2 (1990) but was unable to commit due to scheduling conflicts. Danny Glover was cast instead.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on August 18, 1997.
- Performed one song of the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing (1987), power ballad "She's Like the Wind". It reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart of that year.
- Called 'King of the Sleepers" for a brief period, after the unexpected success of Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990).
- Was considered for the roles of Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon (1987), Connor MacLeod in Highlander (1986), and Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989).
- Starting in the early 1990s (shortly after the box-office success of his movie Ghost (1990)), hip-hop lyrics often included his name or the phrase "I'm Swayze" as a reference to or replacement for the earlier slang, "I'm ghost", meaning "I'm leaving/out of here/gone, etc." The Notorious B.I.G. was one artist who was especially fond of including this phrase in his songs. Swayze's appearance in the video for Ja Rule's single "Murder Reigns" was also a reference to his interesting place in hip-hop culture.
- Swayze's father, Jesse Wayne Swayze, was a chemical plant-engineer in Houston, Texas. Besides sharing the middle name "Wayne", Jesse and Patrick both died at the same age (57 years): Jesse suffered a fatal heart attack in 1982; Patrick's life was taken by cancer in 2009. Patrick Swayze's mother was dancer Patsy Swayze. His younger brother is actor Don Swayze and his former sister-in-law is Marcia Swayze. Patrick and Don Swayze's sister, Vicky Swayze, committed suicide in 1994.
- Continuing cancer treatment, he told the press, "I am continuing treatment at Stanford [University Medical Center near San Francisco] and the great news is I continue to respond well." Was photographed in public with his wife at a basketball game, watching the Los Angeles Lakers play the San Antonio Spurs in Los Angeles. (May 2008)
- In 1976, he almost had to have his left leg amputated after suffering from a Staph infection caused by a tooth abscess, which settled in his weakened left knee.
- Revealed he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January and is receiving treatment, but is continuing to work on projects. (March 2008)
- Was a practitioner of Wushu, Taekwondo, Aikido, Judo, Karate, Wing Chun and Ukidokan Kickboxing, which he used to channel his self-deprecating rage.
- Hospitalized for a week with internal bleeding. (August 2009)
- Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas.
- Immortalized in the song "(Let's Have) A Patrick Swayze Christmas" from the "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988).
- Attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School and Black Middle School in Houston, Texas. Graduated from S.P. Waltrip High School in Houston in 1971. Other Waltrip High School alumni include Shelley Duvall and wrestler Mark Calaway (aka The Undertaker). In high school, Swayze excelled at football and gymnastics and won an athletic scholarship to college. After graduating high school, he studied gymnastics at San Jacinto College for two years.
- Swayze was born the same year (1952) that the soap opera "Guiding Light" moved from radio to television and he died the same year (2009) that "Guiding Light" aired its series finale.
- Had English, Irish and Scottish ancestry.
- Body Cremated and Ashes scattered over his New Mexico ranch.
- Born at 8:10 AM (CST).
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