Shortly after hearing the news of his death yesterday, I remembered how a pastime of young girls in my middle school was to call Patrick Swayze's house (the number was listed) and try to get him on the phone. The fact that his number was listed post-Dirty Dancing mania clued me in on how normal and humble this man was. The fact that his father answered and put Patrick on the phone who then humored a gaggle of twelve-year-olds is one of my fondest childhood memories.

The fact that he starred in The Outsiders, one of my favorite book-to-big-screen movies by S.E. Hinton, still resonates in my mind. Great acting even before any of us knew how great a dancer he was. Lest we all forget how beautiful Stevie Wonder sang as the credits began to roll about remembering to Stay Gold *sniff*

Let's do it for Jonny. RIP Patrick.

may your beautiful soul rest in peace Patrick.................................

Like y'all have said, Patrick Swayze was one of the few masculine dancers out there-- a self-described cowboy, who still clearly had soul and grace. Dirty Dancing holds a special place in my tween memories, and still holds up today. Also, Point Break, Ghost, even that funny turn as the creepy tv guru on Donnie Darko. Also, in the craziness of Hollywood, he seemed to always stay in love with his wife. God Rest Him. RIP.

Will miss the way he moved.

There was somthing about him that was graceful but still very masculine with his acting and dancing.

Always loved that song 'She's Like The Wind'

Will miss you always Mr Swayze.

Dude was the man, God bless him family. RIP Swayze

patrick swayze seemed like a wonderful, brave man. talented dancer, actor, singer - a true triple threat. I said on twitter a few moments ago that this one is hitting me very hard. number one because patrick succumbed to pancreatic cancer, same as my dad. infact, they were diagnosed almost the exact same time. but second because of patrick's own relationship with HIS father. he said in an interview that losing his dad was difficult mostly because he'd lived his life to make him proud. that was how I regarded my dad. his death has taken a bit of the sweetness away from my accomplishments. they don't seem as good if he's not here to help me celebrate them.

anyway, rest in eternal peace, mr. swayze. thank you for fighting the good fight, on behalf of everyone affected by cancer.

I'm taking this death almost as bad as I took Michael Jackson's death. Patrick played Darrel "Darry" Curtis in the film, The Outsiders, and I read that book a thousand times or more when I was a kid, then when the movie was released, I saw it 3 times in a row when it hit the theater.

Not to mention his work in Red Dawn, North and South, Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Roadhouse, Point Break, Next of Kin......man he was a marquee player in the 80's! Loved him and will miss him.

This is very sad and unfortunate. I assumed he was winning the battle. Fortunately, his legacy will live on, through his cinematic and television accomplishments. "Too Wong Foo: Thanks, For Everything...Julie Newmar" and "Ghost" will always be two of my favorites. I pray for the peace and endurance of his loved ones.

R. I. P. Patrick!