Patrick Swayze: 1952-2009

More Sexy Men: Patrick Swayze — AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57. "Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement released by his publicist, Annett Wolf.

Patrick Swayze, left, and his wife, Lisa Niemi, pose with their dogs, poodle Lucas, left, and Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy Kumasai at their ranch in New Mexico on May 13, 2009. Swayze and Niemi's memoir, "The Time of My Life," published by Atria Books, is scheduled for release in late September. Swayze was married since 1975 to Niemi, a fellow dancer who took lessons with his mother; they met when he was 19 and she was 15.

In an interview with Barbara Walters in January 2009, Patrick Swayze said that battling his pancreatic cancer was like "going through hell" but that he worked through the pain to film the A&E series "The Beast," in which he played an undercover FBI agent. He also told Walters that the cancer, which he has been battling since early 2008, had spread to his liver. Swayze lost his brave fight on Sept. 14, 2009. He was 57.

Patrick Swazye watches the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs play in the first half in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference basketball finals, May 23, 2008, in Los Angeles. On March 5, 2008, Swayze's rep confirmed that the actor was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment.

Travis Fimmel, left, and Patrick Swayze are shown in a photo for the A&E series, "The Beast." Swayze kept working despite his cancer diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting the A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot. Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance.

Patrick Swayze, left, and his wife Lisa Niemi pose for photographers at the premiere of the film "Inland Empire," Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, in Los Angeles. Swayze and Niemi married in 1975. They met in a dance class taught by Swayze's mother when Lisa was 15.

In 2005, Patrick Swayze starred as a brash golf instructor in "Keeping Mum, with Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas. The following year, he made his London stage debut in the musical "Guys and Dolls" as Nathan Detroit. In the U.S., he's appeared on the Broadway stage in productions of "Goodtime Charley" (1975) and "Chicago" (2003).

Patrick Swayze, right, and his wife, Lisa, pose for photographers prior to the premiere of his new film, "Keeping Mum," at a Leicester Square cinema in central London, Monday, Nov. 28, 2005.

Patrick Swayze speaks to students and faculty of the Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas, Thursday, July 28, 2005, to promote "One Last Dance." Swayze, a dancer and choreographer, produced and starred in the romantic drama with his wife, Lisa. The film was based on the couple's original award-winning play, "Without A Word."

Actor Patrick Swayze as adventurer Allan Quatermain in this scene from the Hallmark Channel's 2004 remake of "King Solomon's Mines."

Wreckage from Patrick Swayze's Cessna plane lies on the ground after he made an emergency landing June 1, 2000, in Prescott Valley, Ariz. The actor and pilot, who was flying from Van Nuys, Calif. to Las Vegas with his two dogs, was not injured in the crash.

Patrick Swayze dances along a 660 foot red carpet during the opening ceremony of the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Dubai Tuesday, May 26, 1998.

Patrick Swayze poses Monday, Aug. 18, 1997, after the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. The honor for Swayze coincided with the re-release of his first big hit, "Dirty Dancing", originally released in 1987.

Patrick Swayze's biggest hit came in 1990, alongside Demi Moore, in "Ghost." In 1991, he was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" and starred alongside Keanu Reeves in the action adventure "Point Break."

Patrick Swayze as Vida Boheme in the 1995 movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar." Swayze earned his second Golden Globe nod for the role in which he played one of three drag queens traveling cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in a scene from the 1987 surprise hit "Dirty Dancing." Considered his breakthrough role, Swayze was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role of dance instructor Johnny Castle. He sang and co-wrote one of the songs on the soundtrack, "She's Like the Wind," which was inspired by his wife, Lisa Niemi. The song became a top-10 hit.

In 1983, Patrick Swayze appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's Coppola's coming-of-age story, "The Outsiders." From left are Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Swayze and Tom Cruise. His feature film debut came in 1979 with "Skatetown U.S.A."