Los Angeles - Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, a symbol of youthful vitality in the 1980s movie world, has died at 57 after a protracted battle with cancer, his spokeswoman Annett Wolf said in a statement. "Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," Wolf said Monday.
He had publicly battled pancreatic cancer, continuing to act in the cable television series The Beast while eschewing painkillers that might have impaired his performance.
Swayze went public about his cancer in March 2008, saying that it was likely that he would die within two years.
He was best known for his role as a dance instructor in the 1987 romance Dirty Dancing, which he followed up with another blockbuster romance, Ghost, in 1990, after which he was chosen by People magazine as the "sexiest man alive."
Despite his heartthrob status, he was married to Lisa Niemi from 1975 until his death and devoted much of his time to raising thoroughbred horses on his remote California ranch.
Swayze's co-stars through his long career immediately paid tribute to the iconic star.
"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace," said Jennifer Grey, his co-star in Dirty Dancing. "Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart."
Ashton Kutcher, whose wife, Demi Moore, co-starred with Swayze in Ghost, wrote on Twitter: "RIP P Swayze."
Kenny Ortega, the film world's leading choreographer, said Swayze "was a great human being who I knew as a loving son, husband, brother and friend. The planet has lost a big heart."
