Patrick Swayze 1952-2009
Patrick Swayze: A Talented Heartthrob Remembered
From Dirty Dancing to his valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, see what made the actor a beloved star
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EARNING HIS STAR
In 1997, Swayze received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Still, stardom was often overwhelming for the actor. Just four years earlier, he had checked into rehab after years of struggling with an alcohol problem. "I played with trying to deal with fame and got stupid and drank too much," Swayze told PEOPLE in 2007. "I feel real fortunate that I've come out on the other end of it all."
