- Posted by Rusty
My greatest memory of Patrick Swayze was not “Dirty Dancing” (which I will see one day, I promise!) or “Ghost” or even “Point Break” (although I’m always up for watching him rob banks with a surfing Keanu)…but actually “Donnie Darko.” “Darko” is a weird film—I’m not entirely sure it makes sense (and some of its backlash is earned), but Swayze’s performance was something extraordinary. He had maybe 20 minutes of screen time, but he made the most of it as a local inspirational celebrity/hidden pervert. It was a gutsy role, and, more than anything, it showcased a true actor, not just a movie star. There’s one scene near the end, with Swayze breaking down, crying with guilt over his own depravity—it’s a beautiful, heartbreaking bit of acting, and a testament to how great a talent Swayze really was.
“Dirty Dancing,” of course, made him a household name (my mom and my sister still rave about his amazing dance scenes!), and “Ghost” was the work of a confident movie star working at the top of his game, but I like that you couldn’t pin Swayze down. He might have been prolific in the 80’s and 90’s, but I respect him like crazy for laying low, being with his family (he’s been married to the same woman, one that he met at his dance studio when he was 18, for over 30 years), and churning out knockout performances like “Donnie Darko” every now and then. I heard very good things about his performance in his last project, the TV show, “The Beast,” and his SNL Chippendale's-dance sketch with Chris Farley is guaranteed to make you smile, if not laugh outright (it's a bit hard to find now, but you can find a sadly-over-dubbed version HERE). Swayze always struck me as an all-around cool guy, one who’s not afraid to mess around with his image (look no further than his cross-dressing comedy, “To Wong Foo”)—in fact, he had a reputation for being one of the nicest people in Hollywood…and it shows.
It’s tragic news that he died at 57 from a long battle with pancreatic cancer, but I think he left a terrific legacy behind. I have a feeling a lot of “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost” DVDs will be dusted off and played this week, now with a bittersweet feeling to add to the whole experience. And me? I’m gearing up a “Point Break”/”Donnie Darko” double-feature, thus getting both sides of Swayze—the great entertainer and the killer actor. I liked both sides, and I liked the one guy a hell of a lot.
My thoughts and condolences go to his wife, family, and loved ones.
Swayze with Keanu Reeves in 1991's "Point Break"
Swayze in 2001's "Donnie Darko"Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox, Newmarket films, and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
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