Patrick Swayze Passes Away at the Age of 57

From grieving husband missing his wife from the afterlife in "Ghost" to kicking butt in "Roadhouse" and getting down in "Dirty Dancing," Patrick Swayze exuded a certain masculinity that came to define the typecast during the 1980s and beyond. Swayze died Monday at the age of 57 after battling pancreatic cancer. Swayze’s publicist, Annett Wolf, noted 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."

Swayze was first diagnosed in March, 2008 and continued to work after his illness was discovered. He worked on the A&E show "The Beast" and refused to take painkillers during that time because he feared that it would affect his acting performances. At the time Swayze dealt with his illness realistically, telling Barbara Walters in an interview earlier this year, "I’d say five years is pretty wishful thinking. Two years seems likely if you’re going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I’d better get a fire under it."

A variety of messages came in from those whose lives he touched during his long acting career. Demi Moore, who worked with Swayze on "Ghost," noted on Twitter, "Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives." Ashton Kutcher bade Swayze adieu via Twitter as well and linked to a classic clip of Swayze on Saturday Night Live, in a sketch that saw him paired with the late Chris Farley as the unlikely pair tried out to be Chippendales dancers.