Patrick Wayne Swayze (born August 18, 1952), is an American actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter. He is best-known as a romantic leading man in films such as Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990), for which he received Golden Globe nominations, along with his performances in Red Dawn (1984), Road House (1989), and Point Break (1991). He was listed by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January 2008, he has had a public battle with the disease, but is, as he described it to Barbara Walters in January 2009, "kicking it."

He has signed on to be the lead in a new A & E television series, The Beast, which began airing on January 15, 2009. Has two brothers and one sister (His mother Patsy Swayze is a well known choreographer of among others; Urban Cowboy, Thelma and Louise and Letters from a Killer). Swayze's latest starring role was in the film Christmas in Wonderland (2007). In August 2007, Swayze played an aging rock star in the upcoming film Powder Blue (slated for 2009 release), costarring his younger brother Don in their first film together. Patrick recently wrapped taping on A & E pilot / FBI drama The Beast, filming in Chicago in summer 2008; he will play FBI Agent Charles Barker. The Beast is scheduled to air in early 2009.