"Dirty Dancing" icon Patrick Swayze loses his battle with pancreatic cancer

Few people had heard of Patrick SwayzePatrick Swayze before he appeared as Johnny Castle in the 1987 release of the movie “Dirty Dancing.” On screen chemistry between Swayze and Jennifer Gray seemed to heat up the screen, but off screen, their relationship was a bit strained at times.

Swayze, the disciplined dancer, with professional ballet experience, was said to be rather impatient with Gray’s loss of concentration during certain scenes in the movie.

But Patrick and Jennifer were friends and always had fond memories of making the movie together.

His "Dirty Dancing" co-star, Jennifer Gray, said Swayze "was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace."

"Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart," she said after learning of his death. "He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.

"When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see," she said.

Prior to “Dirty Dancing”, Patrick starred in a box office flop called “Red Dawn.” But after his role as Johnny, he went on to be a mega-star and was nominated for a Golden Globe in “Ghost”, which would be his most successful movie commercially.

Demi MooreDemi Moore released this statement upon hearing of Swayze's death, "Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives. In the words of Sam to Molly. 'It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' I will miss you. Demi."

Patrick’s wife Lisa and his brother Donny were with him at home at his Los Angeles horse ranch, when he lost his 20 month battle to pancreatic cancer at 57 years old.

Lisa Swayze said that he had just recently completed the audio version of his memoir entitled 'The Time of My Life' in homage to the song he made famous in 'Dirty Dancing'.