Patrick Swayze Movies
Many Hollywood actors are forever associated with an iconic role and Dirty Dancing is usually discussed with reference to Patrick Swayze movies. The Texan born actor studied classical ballet, an experience that was to help him in his later career. His film debut was in 1979 when he was cast as Ace in Skatetown, USA. He received a lot of attention for his part in the Francis Ford Coppola movie, The Outsiders, in 1983. The movie used an ensemble cast, a few of whom came to be known as The Brat Pack. Swayze’s co-stars were Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon and Tom Cruise.
The Outsiders had put Swayze in good company but his big breakthrough came in 1987 when Dirty Dancing was released. This Patrick Swayze movie was more than a box office smash; it became part of popular culture and fans still try to recreate the dance floor moves today. Swayze plays a dance instructor named Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey plays his love interest. The role won him a nomination for a Golden Globe. The film also displayed his talent as a songwriter. The soundtrack includes She’s Like the Wind, which he co-wrote and sang.
Another box office success followed in 1990 with the release of Ghost. This Patrick Swayze movie is a touching supernatural romance and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. He plays Sam Wheat, a highflying bank employee, married to Molly, played by Demi Moore. Whoopie Goldberg adds comic relief in the tearjerker. Swayze turned bad guy in Point Break in which he plays a serial bank robber named Bodhi, who is leader of a criminal surfer gang. Keanu Reeves portrays the cop that has to infiltrate the gang to bring Bodhi to justice.
Director Roland Joffe cast Swayze as Doctor Max Lowe in City of Joy, set in Calcutta. The doctor is disillusioned with life but finds inspiration working in the slums with the poor and severely sick patients. Swayze’s co-stars are Om Puri and Pauline Collins. Swayze returned to a bad guy role in the cult movie, Donnie Darko, in which he plays psychologist, Jim Cunningham. The title role is played by Jake Gyllenhal, a disturbed teenager involved in hallucinations and time travel.
Swayze likes to take a variety of parts and is prepared to play unsympathetic characters. A Patrick Swayze movie usually delivers quality and he has expanded his acting skills away from his dancing shoes. He portrays the sleazy owner of a strip club in his upcoming release, titled Powder Blue. Expected to hit the theatres in December, it also features Jessica Biel, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Liotta and Forest Whitaker.
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