Remembering Patrick Swayze

It's been exactly a year since he died, on 14th September, 2009 - after a long battle with pancreatic cancer - and I thought I'd take this chance to talk about the things that made him special and also my favourite movies.

Patrick was a true romantic - on screen and in real life. He married his childhood hometown sweetheart, Lisa Remi, who was his mother's favourite student at the performing arts academy they both attended. Back in the '80s, where macho ruled supreme on the silver screen and action heros were the order of the day, Swayze brought in his own flavour of the romantic hero, but with a generous dose of masculinity along with it.

Even though his biggest hit by far was Ghost (1990), I actually like Point Break (1991), directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt locker) a lot better. Swayze overshadows everyone in the movie, including Keanu Reeves with his Zen-like rendition of Bodhi, the misguided surfer.

Although his debut on the big screen was in the 1983 Coppola movie, The Outsiders (also featuring Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and several other future Hollywood stars), followed by the 1984 cold war rendition, Red Dawn, it wasn't till a few years later than Swayze finally arrived in the big league.

And then, who could forget Dirty Dancing (1987), an iconic film when I was growing up - also featuring Jennifer Grey, who carried off the role of the girl-next-door to perfection. Grey says of Swayze - he was a "real cowboy with a tender heart." Patrick even sang on the soundtrack to the movie score, which so many of us know by heart, with a tribute song to his wife - 'She's like the wind'.


But if you're looking for the serious committed actor, look no further than Darko (2001), where Swayze plays a celebrity pedophile, in what has to be the most challenging role of his career. Not his most celebrated performance, but it shows off Patrick Swayze as the mature actor who could pull off a demanding role, just as he was so successful playing the open-shirted, big-hearted hero that so many in my generation grew to love.

R.I.P Patrick Swayze, animal lover (he bred horses), doting father and husband.

Demi Moore tweeted a quote from Ghost - "'It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' I love (you) and will miss you, Patrick."

So will we.

We remember you this day.

oRiOn