US film star Patrick Swayze dies

Swayze fought his disease in public
Dirty Dancing film star Patrick Swayze has died aged 57, his publicist says.

Annett Wolf said that the US actor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years, died with family at his side on Monday.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage four pancreatic cancer in January last year.

The actor had been starring in US TV show The Beast since being diagnosed with the disease. He had also planned to write a memoir with his wife.

"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace"

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement by Annett Wolf quoted by the Associated Press.

No other details were given.

Jennifer Grey, who co-starred with Swayze in Dirty Dancing, said in a statement: "Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace. Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart.

"He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified."

He was always uncomfortable with the Hollywood sex symbol tag
Rob Lowe, who played in a number of films with Swayze, said: "Patrick lived a thousand lifetimes in one lifetime. He was an expert dancer, he wrote hit songs, he starred in hit movies, he was an amazing horseman.

"But the thing I will remember him most for was his amazing love affair with his wife Lisa."

Ashton Kutcher, whose wife Demi Moore co-starred with Swayze in Ghost, wrote on Twitter: "RIP P Swayze."

Greg Kilday, the film editor for Hollywood Reporter, said Swayze was "in the tradition of a performer like Gene Kelly, who invested dance and romance with a real masculine athletic appeal".

Swayze's dream

In January, Swayze admitted he might only have two years to live, but denied he was near death.

In a US TV interview, he admitted he was "scared" and "going through hell".

"Am I dying? Am I giving up? Am I on my death bed? Am I saying goodbye to people? No way," Swayze told TV interviewer Barbara Walters.

"I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, not lived in the shadow of cancer but in the light," he said.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most virulent forms of cancer which medical experts say has a 5% five-year survival rate.