"Dirty Dancing" star Patrick Swayze dies

Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, whose turn as a smoldering dance instructor in "Dirty Dancing" made him one of the iconic film stars of the 1980s, died on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 57-year-old heart-throb, who cemented his status as sex symbol opposite Demi Moore in the 1990 romance "Ghost," died at his home with his family after suffering complications from the illness, Swayze's publicist said.

California Governor and former Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger led the tributes to Swayze, describing him as a "talented and passionate artist who struck a memorable chord with audiences throughout the world."

"He played a wide range of characters both on stage and in movies and his celebrated performances made the hard work of acting look effortless -- which I know from experience is not easy," Schwarzenegger said.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage-four pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly forms of the disease, in January 2008, leaving him with only a one-percent chance of surviving longer than five years, according to medical experts.

He played a wide range of characters both on stage and in movies and his celebrated performances made the hard work of acting look effortless -- which I know from experience is not easy

Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and governor

Dirty Dancing

Swayze became a pop culture icon with 1987's "Dirty Dancing," which defied Hollywood expectations to become one of the most-watched movies of all time.

"Dirty Dancing," which was made for a modest budget and almost scrapped by its studio, became a massive box-office hit, earning Golden Globe nominations for both stars and spawning the Oscar-winning hit single "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."

Producers did not have high hopes for the film but it reaped $64 million at the U.S. box office and $214 million worldwide.

Ghost

I 1990 "Ghost" was an even bigger hit with a domestic box office take of more than $217 million and $505 million around the world.

Swayze starred as Demi Moore's deceased lover, Sam, in the tear-jerker romance, which was nominated for a best film Academy Award.

Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for her supporting role as a spiritual medium who helps Sam communicate with his girlfriend from beyond the grave. Goldberg said it was Swayze who convinced director Jerry Zucker to cast her.

The making of a star

Swayze was born in Houston on Aug. 18, 1952, and was introduced to performing early. His father was a champion rodeo cowboy and his mother owned a ballet studio.

As a young man, he moved to New York City in 1972 for more formal dance training at the prestigious Harkness Ballet and Joffrey ballet schools.

A lanky Texan with a dancer's easy grace, Swayze had a string of hit films in the 1980s and 1990s. He was named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine in 1991.

After "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," Swayze suffered several career setbacks, including a battle with alcohol.

Attributing some of his problems with drinking to his sudden fame and the Hollywood lifestyle, he moved back to Texas with wife Lisa Niemi but worked in such films as "The Green Dragon" and "Donnie Darko," both in 2001.

A public battle with cancer

The actor had bravely fought the disease in the public eye, continuing to work on set despite grueling cancer treatment and significant weight loss.

The actor and former dancer had vowed to fight the disease and had treatment with an experimental drug. He then surprised Hollywood by filming a new detective series for television called "The Beast" in which he played the grueling lead role. The series was broadcast earlier this year.

In January he slammed tabloid reporting of his condition in an interview with ABC television's Barbara Walters, where he bullishly declared that he was determined to beat his condition.

He told Walters he had tried to keep his illness secret but went public to protect family and friends after tabloids reported he was close to death.

"Hope is a very, very fragile thing in anyone's life and the people I love do not need to have that hope robbed from them when it's unjustified and it's untrue," Swayze said.

Yet only a few months later, Swayze's representative was forced to issue a condemnation of "reckless" reports saying the actor had died.

Hope is a very, very fragile thing in anyone's life and the people I love do not need to have that hope robbed from them when it's unjustified and it's untrue

Patrick Swayze