Patrick Swayze died today as he lived and performed, with class and grace.
Swayze’s association with iconic appearances in Dirty Dancing, Road House, Point Break, and Ghost
are so towering that we forget sometimes what range and skill he showed as an elegant drag queen in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar, as a motivational speaker with a dark side in Donnie Darko, and as an eager finalist for a job as a Chippendale’s dancer on “Saturday Night Live.” No one could say that line about putting Baby in the corner and make us believe it like Swayze. He was a superb performer and a class act. He handled his illness with dignity and courage. I wish there was a psychic like the one Whoopi Goldberg played in “Ghost” who could bring him back for just one more dance.
He also gave a hilarious performance in Keeping Mum, another of my favorite overlooked movies.
You left out his single greatest accomplishment: he taught guys all around the world how they could get away with saying “ditto.”
I’m so glad you mentioned this neglected gem, monkie! He is terrific in that movie along with a great cast that includes Maggie Smith, Rowan Atkinson, and Kristen Scott Thomas.
Unfortunately the only film I’ve seen with Patrick is Ghost. I’m trying not to think about the irony of that. Guess it’s time I rented Dirty Dancing and Red Dawn.
My favourite scene from Ghost would have to be when he was tormenting Whoopi Goldberg with “I’m Henry the Eighth I Am.” When she mentions it to Molly later she replies “That’s how he got me to go out with him.”
RIP Patrick.
Very nice…he will be missed!
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9207-Baltimore-Movie-Examiner~y2009m9d15-Patrick-Swayze-dead-at-57-loses-battle-with-cancer
Tom
He also gave a hilarious performance in Keeping Mum, another of my favorite overlooked movies.
You left out his single greatest accomplishment: he taught guys all around the world how they could get away with saying “ditto.”
I’m so glad you mentioned this neglected gem, monkie! He is terrific in that movie along with a great cast that includes Maggie Smith, Rowan Atkinson, and Kristen Scott Thomas.
Unfortunately the only film I’ve seen with Patrick is Ghost. I’m trying not to think about the irony of that. Guess it’s time I rented Dirty Dancing and Red Dawn.
My favourite scene from Ghost would have to be when he was tormenting Whoopi Goldberg with “I’m Henry the Eighth I Am.” When she mentions it to Molly later she replies “That’s how he got me to go out with him.”
RIP Patrick.