Patrick with his wife Lisa Niemi

Patrick with his wife Lisa Niemi

We lost a warm, endearing and wonderful actor today. Patrick Swayze passed away at the age of 57 after nearly two years of battling pancreatic cancer.  His career was diverse from stage, film to cable television.

His most recent role was in A & E’s The Beast as a tough FBI agent where he openly talked about his battle with cancer before the cable show premiere.  

His career started as a trained dancer and appeared in “Greece” on Broadway. In 1979 he made his film debut in Skatetown U.S.A.  His next stand out roles took place in several movies that centered on youth including The Outsiders and Red Dawn. Finally, he earned a major role in Civil War miniseries North and South in 1985.

But what really caught the attention of the public at large was his role as the dance instructor opposite Jennifer Grey in 1987’s Dirty Dancing, which became a box office hit. He received a Golden Globe nomination and sang one of the songs on the soundtrack.

Ghost in 1990 catapulted his career even further. He played a husband who romantically haunted his wife, Demi Moore, after he was murdered.   He co-starred with Keanu Reeves in surfer action film Point Break before injuring himself when he fell from a horse while filming HBO’s Letters From a Killer in 1996. Both his legs were broken.  

His later film roles included Donnie Darko, King Solomon’s Mines and a cameo in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.

Swayze also did stints onstage where he starred in a London production of “Guys and Dolls,” in 2006, and earlier appeared on Broadway in “Goodtime Charley” (1975) and “Chicago” (2003).

In addition to The Beast, he recently starred in Christmas in Wonderland and played an aging rock star in the unreleased Powder Blue.

The HBO movie where he broke both legs was filming in my hometown when it happened.  The crew and local actors of the movie had nothing but kind words to say about Swayze.  One actor really made it a point to tell me how down to earth he was with everyone. He really cared about people’s happiness and well-being, an invaluable commodity in show business.

Patrick may you reach the Heavens and shine forever.

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point breakJust in case you are one of the people out there who really wanted a Point Break sequel, I really hate to do this to you, but I’m going to have to ruin your entire day.  There is now virtually no chance of anyone seeing a Point Break sequel.

Originally, there were some stirrings that put this as a direct to video sequel, especially considering that none of the original principal actors had been contacted about the sequel.  That’s right–not Keanu, not poor ailing Patrick Swayze, not even Lori Petty.  No one from the original.  so that really didn’t bode well for this going back to the box office, but there was at least still a possibility of a direct to video sequel.

Until today.

An announcement from “good as official sources” says that the Point Break sequel is now officially dead.    The entire production has fallen apart, as evidenced by the repeated pushing back of the start date.  They couldn’t even manage to get this lead balloon off the ground in the first place, so it’s probably for the best that they may wish to kill this canard off before we had to waste time with it in stores.

Again, sorry Point Break fans…no sequel for you.

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Powder Blue Trailer

Here are some trailers for the upcoming movie Powder Blue that stars Jessica Biel who acts as a stripper. Given an R rating, Director Timothy Linh Bui offers a movie that promises some great twists and turns.

A city of ten million people, Los Angeles is built on dreams of fame where glitz and glamour dominate the topical landscape. But beneath the tabloid headlines and the flashing cameras lies a city whose people are desperate for an identity, a connection, and a reason to hope.

The cast includes:
Eddie Redmayne, Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Lisa Kudrow, Patrick Swayze, Kris Kristofferson, Alejandro Romero, Sanaa Lathan.

The movie is scheduled for release on May 8, 2009.

(Source) Coming Soon.net

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Kathy Pease (363) is the winner of this fantastic giveaway!!!

The Beast is about an unorthodox but effective FBI veteran, Charles Barker (Swayze), who takes on a rookie partner, Ellis Dove (Fimmel), to train in his hard-edged and mentally clever style of agenting.  The mischievous veteran hazes his new partner as they work undercover, brilliantly manipulating situations, constantly testing his new partner and pushing him to delve deeper into his “roles.”  As Dove realizes he can no longer maintain normal relationships and still do his job, the rookie is confronted with yet another challenge: An FBI team trying to enlist him as a double-agent in the bureau’s investigation of his partner.  Don’t miss the premiere of this hard-hitting drama, Thursday, January 15th at 10PM ET/PT only on A&E. Visit “The Beast” website for more information.
  
 ”The Beast” Prize Package Includes:

Jacket

T-shirt

Hat

Patrick Swayze DVD package featuring:  Road House and Point Break.

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Win Prizes from “THE BEAST” STARRING PATRICK SWAYZE, PREMIERING THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 AT 10PM ET/PT on A&E.

Post your name and Screenhead will pick the winner January 16th.

“The Beast,” starring Patrick Swayze and Travis Fimmel, centers on an unorthodox but effective FBI veteran, Charles Barker (Swayze), who takes on a rookie partner, Ellis Dove (Fimmel), to train in his hard-edged and mentally clever style of agenting.  The mischievous veteran hazes his new partner as they work undercover, brilliantly manipulating situations, constantly testing his new partner and pushing him to delve deeper into his “roles.”  As Dove realizes he can no longer maintain normal relationships and still do his job, the rookie is confronted with yet another challenge: An FBI team trying to enlist him as a double-agent in the bureau’s investigation of his partner.  Don’t miss the premiere of this hard-hitting drama, Thursday, January 15th at 10PM ET/PT only on A&E. Visit “The Beast” website for more information.
  
 ”The Beast” Prize Package Includes:

Jacket

T-shirt

Hat

Patrick Swayze DVD package featuring:  Road House and Point Break.
 

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Good News for Swayze

pswayze.jpg 

Good news for A&E Network and Patrick Swayze, they have picked up “The Beast.” Patrick Swayze, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March, is set to star in the series alongside Travis Fimmel.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Beast,” from Sony, centers on an unorthodox but effective FBI veteran (Swayze) who trains a new partner (Fimmel) in his hard-edged and psychologically clever style of agenting while being pursued by a secret Internal Affairs team.

A&E has ordered 13 hour-long episodes to go into production this summer in Chicago, with a tentative premiere set for early 2009.

In a statement, Swayze did not address his health, but network execs confirmed that his doctors have cleared him to resume work.

“I have searched for quite a long time to find a character that is this multilayered, unpredictable and downright entertaining as well as a project this current and cutting-edged,” he said.

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