died just a bit ago. /mourn

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28582715/?gt1=43001

Was a really good guy....WOLVERINES!!

Awww damn! was really good guy as well as a great actor. cant think of anything he starred in that i didnt love.

You are the Bouncers!!!, I AM the Cooler!!!!!

Bummer. =\ RIP Pat.

Swayze was the butt of a lot of jokes over his career for his 'B' movie hero status - but there was a lot that was genuine and likeable in the man and for that matter his work. I've been mulling over the past couple of days over what makes 'great' art (for unrelated reasons) - and while Swayze's work was directed at the masses, there was occasional greatness, and without question a great heart, in it. And both he and Chris Farley, who gave us possibly the best Saturday Night Live skit ever, are dancing in Heaven (if one believes in such) now...

If you want to see a fascinating juxtaposition of the completely cheesy and the transcendent, check out this clip from the 1994 World Music awards. It features a 42-year old Swayze and his wife (and if you want to talk about disgustingly sweet, they met as teenagers at his mother's dance studio, married, and shared everything from dance to small craft aviation over their 32 year years together, she flying him from Houston to Los Angeles for his chemo towards the end) dancing to Whitney Houston's 'He lifts me up' (or whatever the heck that song's title actually is): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y0TWOttkVo&feature=player_embedded#t=274 So much about this is the epitome of overdone '90s glitzy cheese (down to Fabio coming down the stairs at the end of the clip as the next presenter ;) ), from Whitney's beautiful voice singing that overwrought tune, to Lisa's silver lame' dress to all the spinning and lifting and blonde hair cascading... and yet there's something utterly sincere and beautiful about it. Is something intrinsically incapable of being 'great art', simply because it isn't terribly complex, or comes from and is designed to appeal to the mass sensibility? Isn't it enough, sometimes, for something to be simply beautiful and in doing so, to occasionally transcend its feet of clay? (and if one catches the brief closeup at about 3:00 one can see that they are working *very* hard, he's drenched in sweat making that look effortless) I think Swayze's films rank up there as some of the great 'guilty pleasures' of all time in that regard...

Anyway, this has gone far afield, but rest well, Mr. Swayze - your humility, sincerity, and humor will be missed.

Regards,
Nydia

NOBODY puts baby in the corner!

Had just read earlier that 'Roadhouse' had the most showings on television in the last year of any movie.

I enjoyed his stuff, and admired his relationship with his wife. He was most definitely a 'one of a kind' individual who loved what he did and enjoyed the opportunities he was given in life.

While I am glad the battle is over, it would have been nice to have him around longer.

Rest in peace.

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

Wow, there's an unexpected loss. I grew up on many of those movies I've been mulling over the past couple of days over what makes 'great' art (for unrelated reasons) Ever read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance? Not the deepest, but he discusses that, and we use it as part of our discussions here.

I did quite enjoy some of his stuff, I'll remember him most as the motivational speaker in Donnie Darko, but the past 20 months have been really inspiring. A family member of mine died from pancreatitis, and the fact that he lived for that long with pancreatic cancer is downright amazing.

Road House rocked my world. RIP Swazey!

ps back on the internet on thursday, for anybody who has missed me!! It's been hell!!

I think his best movie was Red Dawn, hands down. Sorry to hear he finally succumed to cancer.

I can't think of a movie he was in that I didn't like. Sad loss but amazing he held on as long as he did with that type of cancer. RiP :(

My girlfriend and I just watched Red Dawn and The Outsiders a couple weeks ago( she had never seen them).
The Swayze will be missed.

Cant believe this.. he wasnt only a good actor .. he was a great actor. Three movies I would rember hm the most were Red Dawn, Ghost, Road house .. hmm well 4 Dirty Dancing. He was a real all around good guy and will truely be missed:(

Sorry folks, it just...you know, the timing, it was right there!

Personally, I thought he was awesome in Road House and even BETTER in the show The Beast. That was some fine drama right there.