Patrick Swayze: a career in clips
The Outsiders
The cast list for Francis Ford Coppola's teen flick is like a tipsheet for the male stars of the next decade. Alongside Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze takes the role of older brother Darrel. His performance hints at the way he would later master the tough/tender character combo. He cries – but he's still manly! An American movie star is born.
The Renegades
This short-lived TV series about a bunch of outlaws with Swayze as their leader, forced to choose between going to jail or becoming undercover cops, has achieved cult status, partly because it's pure camp genius.
Dirty Dancing
The big one. Swayze, cast yet again as "the tough guy", was finally able to show a bit more range, as well as some fabulous dance moves. Johnny is cool and arrogant at the start of the film, but then reveals his vulnerability, his life on the streets and his unhappy childhood, then falls in love and learns to aim high. Plus he's fit. And did we mention cool?
Ghost
His comic acting may occasionally leave a bit to be desired, but you can never, ever accuse the Swayze of holding back. When a scene calls for full-on romantic tearfulness, he gives it his all, every time.
Point Break
Here, Swayze combines "cool dude that everyone looks up to" with "spiritual guy in touch with a different plane" in what could be his seminal performance. He's so sincere it hurts.
City of Joy
The point where things began to unravel for Swayze, in a story about finding spiritual enlightenment in a Calcutta slum. Really?
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Swayze in drag. With Wesley Snipes. And a long title. Unforgettable – but one senses the studio had not fully thought this project through.
Donnie Darko
Swayze's cameo role as a motivational speaker (and closet paedophile) allows him to finally, overtly send himself up. Is that what he was always doing? We never knew. And now we never will.
