---
name: "Patrick Swayze"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/patrick-swayze"
fi1m_id: "patrick-swayze"
imdb_id: "nm0000664"
tmdb_id: 723
wikidata_id: "Q49004"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 August 1952"
died: "14 September 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T23:00:48.727657+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Patrick Swayze

## Identity

Patrick Swayze

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/patrick-swayze
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** patrick-swayze
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000664
- **TMDB ID:** 723
- **Wikidata ID:** Q49004
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Swayze, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49004, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/723

Actor. Born 18 August 1952 in Houston, Texas, USA. Died 14 September 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 August 1952, Houston, Texas, USA
- **Died:** 14 September 2009
- **Active:** 1987–2001
- **Also known as:** پاتریک سویزی
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 79 (1), 1990s 81 (2), 2000s 83 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 73 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Fantasy 2, Romance 2, Thriller 2, Action 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $811m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Swayze, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49004, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/723

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Donnie Darko*](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md) (83)
- **AMC+:** [*Point Break*](https://film.one/film/point-break.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ghost*](https://film.one/film/ghost.md) (80)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Dirty Dancing*](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md) (79)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Patrick Swayze

> Patrick Swayze brought a dancer’s ease to tough men and unembarrassed sincerity to romance. We rate him most when that physical assurance makes affection believable, though *Ghost* also shows how much a responsive partner matters.

In the pottery scene in *Ghost* (1990), Patrick Swayze makes being close to Demi Moore seem easy. The contact matters more than the setting, which production designer Jane Musky has made a little too tidy. Adam Greenberg’s photography keeps our attention on the couple, with the clay providing a welcome mess. Swayze gives the scene the physical ease the film needs us to remember. We believe these two enjoy being together before the supernatural explanations begin to try our patience.

His breakthrough as Johnny Castle in *Dirty Dancing* (1987) had already put movement at the centre of his appeal. The dancing tells us about Johnny as well as showing what Swayze can do, making his physical skill useful to the romance. *Road House* (1989) leaned on the tough leading-man image; in Kathryn Bigelow’s *Point Break* (1991), he made an anti-authority figure persuasive. These parts suit an actor who can look rugged without moving heavily. The risk in such casting is repetition, however well he carries it off.

Jerry Zucker’s *Ghost* asks us to take his feelings seriously, and also makes his limitations clearer. As Sam Wheat, he is so earnest that we need Moore’s more immediate grief to keep the romance from becoming solemn. We were moved more than we expected by Molly’s tears, because Moore makes the loss personal and Swayze has made Sam’s affection easy to believe. Whoopi Goldberg supplies the comedy, but all three treat the improbable situation seriously enough to hold it together. His contribution is substantial, even if he is not the person doing the most affecting work.

Later roles took him beyond his established romantic and action leads. He played the drag queen Vida Boheme in *To Wong Foo* (1995), then took a supporting part as Jim Cunningham in *Donnie Darko* (2001). For a first encounter, though, choose *Ghost* and watch how comfortable he and Moore are together. The plot will require rather more patience.

## Biography

Patrick Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. Born in Houston, Texas on 18 August 1952, he died in Los Angeles on 14 September 2009.

He gained recognition for roles in *The Outsiders* (1983), *Red Dawn* (1984) and the miniseries *North and South* (1985–1986). His breakthrough came with *Dirty Dancing* (1987), earning a Golden Globe nomination. He starred in *Road House* (1989), *Ghost* (1990) as Sam Wheat and *Point Break* (1991) as Bodhi. Later credits included *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar* (1995) and *Donnie Darko* (2001).

Swayze co-wrote and performed "She's Like the Wind" for the *Dirty Dancing* soundtrack. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Donnie Darko* (2001), Fi1m 83, as Jim Cunningham — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md)
- *Point Break* (1991), Fi1m 82, as Bodhi / Mask President — [page](https://film.one/film/point-break.md)
- *Ghost* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Sam Wheat — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost.md)
- *Dirty Dancing* (1987), Fi1m 79, as Johnny Castle — [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md)

## Complete filmography (53)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *Powder Blue* (2009), as Velvet Larry
- *The Beast* (2009), series, as Charles Barker
- *My Best Friend's Girl* (2008), Thanks
- *Jump* (2008), as Richard Pressburger
- *Christmas in Wonderland* (2007), as Wayne Saunders
- *The Fox and the Hound 2* (2006), as Cash (voice)
- *Keeping Mum* (2005), as Lance
- *Frederick Forsyth's Icon* (2005), series, as Jason Monk
- *Icon* (2005), as Jason Monk
- *11:14* (2004), as Frank
- *King Solomon's Mines* (2004), series, as Allan Quartermain
- *George and the Dragon* (2004), as Garth
- *Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights* (2004), as Dance Class Instructor
- *Abby Singer* (2003), as Patrick Swayze (uncredited)
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley* (2003), as Adrian (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Whoopi* (2003), series, as Tony
- *One Last Dance* (2003), as Travis MacPhearson · Producer
- *Waking Up in Reno* (2002), as Roy Kirkendall
- *Green Dragon* (2001), as Gunnery Sergeant Jim Lance
- *Donnie Darko* (2001), as Jim Cunningham — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-darko.md)
- *Forever Lulu* (2000), as Ben Clifton
- *Letters from a Killer* (1998), as Race Darnell
- *Black Dog* (1998), as Jack Crews
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Three Wishes* (1995), as Jack McCloud
- *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar* (1995), as Vida Boheme
- *Amazing Stories: The Movie IV* (1995), as Eric David Peterson (archive footage)
- *Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure* (1995), as Pecos Bill
- *Father Hood* (1993), as Jack Charles
- *The Player* (1992), as Patrick Swayze (uncredited) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *City of Joy* (1992), as Max Lowe
- *Point Break* (1991), as Bodhi / Mask President — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/point-break.md)
- *Ghost* (1990), as Sam Wheat — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost.md)
- *Next of Kin* (1989), as Truman Gates
- *Road House* (1989), as James Dalton
- *Tiger Warsaw* (1988), as Chuck 'Tiger' Warsaw
- *Steel Dawn* (1987), as Nomad
- *Dirty Dancing* (1987), as Johnny Castle — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing.md)
- *Youngblood* (1986), as Derek Sutton
- *North and South* (1985), series, as Orry Main
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Eric David Peterson
- *Red Dawn* (1984), as Jed
- *Grandview, U.S.A.* (1984), as Ernie 'Slam' Webster · Choreographer
- *The Pigs vs. The Freaks* (1984), as Doug Zimmer
- *Uncommon Valor* (1983), as Kevin Scott
- *The Outsiders* (1983), as Darrel Curtis
- *The Renegades* (1983), series, as Bandit
- *The Renegades* (1982), as Bandit
- *Return of the Rebels* (1981), as K.C. Barnes
- *The Comeback Kid* (1980), as Chuck
- *Skatetown, U.S.A.* (1979), as Ace
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Gary Sturgis, Pvt. Gary Sturgis — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)

## Gallery

- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-9d43db4c240c.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Patrick_Swayze_-_1990_Grammy_Awards_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Memorial stone to Patrick Swayze at the Mountain Lake Hotel where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-c939408b6502.jpg) Memorial stone to Patrick Swayze at the Mountain Lake Hotel where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. (2012) — Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/2012-04-21%3B_Mountain_Lake_Hotel%2C_Giles_Co.%2C_Virginia_-_7099092655.jpg/1280px-2012-04-21%3B_Mountain_Lake_Hotel%2C_Giles_Co.%2C_Virginia_-_7099092655.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Scanned from the original 35MM film negative.](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-1503a9d8b42c.jpg) Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Scanned from the original 35MM film negative. — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Alan_Light_-_Patrick_Swayze_-_1990_Grammy_Awards.jpg/1280px-Alan_Light_-_Patrick_Swayze_-_1990_Grammy_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Patrick Swayze and Rick Best at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Alan Light says that he had trouble with flash and "so after a few seconds Swazye said "I have to pee li](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-817d39871320.jpg) Patrick Swayze and Rick Best at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Alan Light says that he had trouble with flash and "so after a few seconds Swazye said "I have to pee li — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Alan_Light_-_Patrick_Swayze_and_Rick_Best_-_1990_Grammy_Awards.jpg/1280px-Alan_Light_-_Patrick_Swayze_and_Rick_Best_-_1990_Grammy_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-b5c2c3e2a62e.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-03c12440cdf6.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-16ab545fbc50.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB
- ![This is a photograph that I took of my father's [George Kerasotes] awards and I would like them on my wiki page "George Kerasotes" under the Awards Section. Do  (1994)](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-186adba04687.jpg) This is a photograph that I took of my father's [George Kerasotes] awards and I would like them on my wiki page "George Kerasotes" under the Awards Section. Do  (1994) — MichaelKerasotes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Awards_for_George_Kerasotes%2C_January_1994.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-b19b7dbe025c.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-4f6af92a98a2.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick Swayze](https://film.one/media/person/77518/gallery-95d4acdc5ebb.jpg) Patrick Swayze — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 1990: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (nominated), for *Next of Kin*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/patrick-swayze