Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing (AP Photo)
Of course, I never met Patrick Swayze… but I also will never forget him. His death moved me, and I tried hard to figure out why. Was it aftermath from my father-in-law’s fight with pancreatic cancer? Was it what he represented as part of my childhood?
After reflection and reading all the articles and obituaries about the man, I figured it out: Patrick Swayze made it okay to lust after a dancer. I grew up in the 80s where my teenage heart-throbs were athletes, actors and musicians. I fell in love with Tom Cruise in Top Gun because of his bad-ass leather jacket, motorcycle and muscles.
And then, in 1987, a little movie called Dirty Dancing changed everything.
I saw the movie with my best friends Heather, Kristin and Vicki. We went to see a movie about dancing in the Catskills, and we were introduced to Johnny Castle. He was the bad boy of the film, but unlike Tom Cruise’s Maverick, Johnny Castle was a dancer. Oh, Johnny still had muscles, all-black attire and a street-tough attitude. But he also could move his hips, point his toes, dance the Cha-cha… and get the girls.
Yes, Patrick Swayze made dancers desirable. Even for teenage girls in the 80s.
Appreciating dancers (and loving musicals) was not new to my family. I grew up watching Gene Kelly in “Singing the Rain” year after year. I loved Gene Kelly… but he was not sexy to me, Patrick Swayze was. Gene Kelly was athletic, stylish and charismatic. Patrick Swayze was raw, manly and (I’ll say it once more) sexy.
In that vein, I say good-bye to Patrick Swayze. I never knew him, but I thank him for bringing sultry moves and pointed toes to the hearts of teenage girls everywhere.
– LTV Mom
Just trying to squeeze in some television between mothering, working and crashing.
Nobody puts LTV Mom in the corner! Great post Stacy. Your points are spot on. Patrick Swayze was one sexy, dancing man. RIP!
What a wonderful tribute! I love the picture you chose from one of my fave scenes from Dirty Dancing — it just made me sing “Love is Strange”…
“Sylvia…
Yes Mickey.
How do you call your loverboy?
Come ‘ere loverboy!
And if he doesn’t answer?
Oh loverboy…
And if he STILL doesn’t answer?
I simply say… BABY, Oh Baby! My sweet Baby…You’re the one!”
Stacy,
I echo your sentiments about someone who to me as a fan was a great person. What a tribute to live your life in the spotlight and remain married to the same person. I hope I can come to the end of my days and sing, “I’ve had the time of my life!”
Swayze (like my other dancing heart-throb Travolta) and his slick dance moves transported me in time - those penetrating eyes and seductive moves. It all worked. Memories live on and I know the next time ‘Dirty Dancing’ is playing we will all be glued to the TV and wishing it wasn’t so!
I have to admit I got chills when I watched the Dancing with the Stars tribute. I can’t believe Tony and Cheryl did “THE” dance, even down to the lift at the end.
Patrick Swayze was one of my favorite actors. i always watch his last television series which is The Beast.
Patrick Swayze is one of the best actors in Hollywood and we are going to miss him.