Patrick Swayze

Born: 18 August 1952
Where: Houston, Texas

The former ballerina and Disney Parade dancer sprang off the big screen as Johnny Castle in the steamy musical Dirty Dancing in 1987.

He received a Golden Globe nomination for the role and received his second for his portrayal of the spectral Sam Wheat opposite Demi Moore in Ghost.

The son of choreographer Patsy Swayze, he stuided at highly regarded ballet schools including the Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools.

He hit Broadway when he won a role in the musical Grease and it wasn't long before he was on the big screen in 1979's Skatetown U.S.A.

He starred in a number of movies in the early 80's including the Brat-Pack flick The Outsiders, alongside a young Tom Cruise, and the Commie-bashing Red Dawn.

But it was his role in Dirty Dancing alongside Jennifer Gray that really caught the public's attention.

After that Swayze found himself being offered roles that made the most of his flexible abilities.

RoadHouse may be little more than a Van Damme vehicle but Swayze showed he could hold his own against a martial arts superstar.

Swayze then really hit the big time in terms of box office when he co-starred alongside Demi Moore in 1990's Ghost.

Point Break was another huge hit that made the most of both his ability to act and his physical presence.

However, that would be the last of Swayze's major successes, and over the next 10 years he failed to light up the box office with roles in straight to video fare such as Three Wishes and Black Dog.

In 2002 however, Swayze appeared in the highly acclaimed drama Donnie Darko giving his best performance in years, and possibly his most detached, as he portrayed a faith healer with a dark secret.