Farewell to Patrick Swayze – R.I.P.

After a valiant fight, Patrick Swayze, has died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, his publicist said Monday.

The actor and and classically trained dancer famous for his enduringly popular “Dirty Dancing” and the blockbuster film ” Ghost,” died with his family at his side, his publicist, Annett Wolf said, after suffering complications from the illness.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage-four pancreatic cancer in January 2008, a diagnosis that came two weeks after production wrapped on the pilot of “The Beast,” an A&E series in which Swayze starred as an unorthodox FBI agent.

Swayze left with only a one-percent chance of surviving longer than five years, according to medical experts bravely fought the disease in the public eye, while continuing to work despite cancer treatment and significant weight loss.

In January he slammed tabloid reporting of his illness in an interview with ABC television’s Barbara Walters, where he bullishly declared that he was determined to beat his condition.

He told Walters he had tried to keep his illness secret but went public to protect family and friends after tabloids reported he was close to death.  Patrick will be missed by so many!