Patrick Swayze, Actor and Conservationist, Dies at 57
Photo: Michael Caulfield, Stand Up To Cancer via Getty Images
Maybe you knew him best as the misunderstood dancer Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." Or perhaps your favorite memories of him are from the amazing fight scenes in "Road House." We all have our favorite Swayze moments, and it's with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to the screen icon and one-time "Sexiest Man Alive".
Not only did he have a major impact on cinema, but he was a conservationist as well. While filming "King Solomon's Mines" in South Africa, he was moved by the people and animals in the African bush.
"Out of this experience was born an idea for a global conservation documentary series that is turning huge," Swayze told the LA Times in 2004. "I've got some of the leading paleoanthropological scientists in the world coming on my team, and award-winning wildlife documentarians."
In the same interview, he admitted his African experiences even made him re-evaluate his acting career: "Playing this game of rancher and wildlife conservationist, and musician and actor, director and producer, I feel like I wasted time with stardom back in the '80s."
The documentary might not have made it to fruition, but Swayze's love of wildlife and animals was evident. He and his wife split their time between two ranches, which he discussed in 2005. "There's a small one north of LA called Rancho Bizarro, because so many strange things happen in my life. It has just eight horses, three dogs, three cats and some peacocks," he explained. "Most of our horses are at the main one in New Mexico."
Our thoughts are with Swayze's family at this time.
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