By Hailey Rogenski
If you grew up in the ‘90s or the 2000s, I’m sure you’ve heard of movies such as “Dirty Dancing” or “Ghost.” Maybe you watched movies like “Roadhouse,” “The Outsiders,” “Jump” or “Point Break.” Starring in these films was none other than the talented and charming, Patrick Swayze.
Some of you may ask, who was Patrick Swayze? Swayze was a popular actor in the ‘90s, who was a gifted, well-accomplished and luminary individual, not just to his fans, but also to his wife, Lisa Neimi and his four siblings as stated on IMDB.
He was skilled at acting, singing and dancing. After college, he began his acting career on Broadway and made his first big screen appearance in the 1979 movie, “Skatetown, U.S.A.” according to Biography.com.
As stated in Biography.com, Swayze was born on Aug. 18, 1952 and raised in Houston, Texas. He passed away tragically on Sept. 14, 2009, after losing his hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer at only 57 years old.
According to the IMDB, he always maintained a positive attitude when speaking to the press about his disease and he was persistent about pursuing his career and continued working while being treated for his disease.
When I was growing up, Swayze was one of those people that I looked up to because I admired his talent and viewed him as an inspiration.
As a little girl, my mom and I would spend fall evenings watching movies and sipping hot cocoa together. “Ghost” was one of my favorite movies that I played on repeat like a broken record.
When I was in elementary school, Swayze’s moves in “Dirty Dancing” inspired me to want to learn dance, so I ended up enrolling in tap and ballet classes. Although I no longer take dance lessons, I still enjoy doing exercises such as Zumba, belly dancing, and hip-hop workouts.
Swayze was one of many actors who inspired me to take acting classes at age 14. It might sound corny, but whenever I used to see an actor I liked on television, I always wondered what it would be like to be on the screen. I no longer take acting classes, but as a journalism major being on screen is still a possibility. No matter what path I take, I’m sure he would’ve been proud, as he would have been for all of his fans and supporters.
It’s sad to think about his death but he has to be honored for the joy he brought to the hearts of our generation. There are many ways to remember him, whether it be by the places he went or the things he did.
In 2019, a documentary was released titled “I am Patrick Swayze” according to TV Guide, which was made in honor of Swayze’s life and had guest appearances of those closest to him including his wife and his brother Rob. This documentary can be watched on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, VUDU and Google Play as stated on TV Guide.
I have no doubt that Swayze left a mark on all of our hearts. He inspired a whole generation of young people with his talent and courage. Patrick Swayze will never be forgotten.
