From A Ghost to a Bouncer, but always a Gentleman: (Swayze, a retrospective 2009)



Posted: Saturday, October 24, 2009

by
George Cole

"I dream that the word 'cure' will no longer be followed by the words 'it's impossible'" Patrick Swayze speaking at Stand Up to Cancer 2008.

Patrick touched millions of people all over the world with his courage and strength he showed during his recent battle with pancreatic cancer

I knew something was different; I was not the same person that entered the theater ninety-minutes earlier. I had transformed. My life long aspirations and ambitions had changed sometime after "Previews of Coming Attractions" and before Dalton 's last fight. I recognized my change of heart because I was still seated in my gummy movie theater seat watching the credits roll while seated next to my girlfriend. A girlfriend that was feeling extremely neglected while I cataloged every fight scene in "Roadhouse."

I just knew that Dalton (Patrick Swayze's character in Roadhouse) was going to provide another pearl of wisdom while performing roundhouse kicks to the faces of the bad guys. "Be nice," Dalton would state before pummeling his opponent into dust. Swayze was cool as ice and smooth as a razor. His character was the absolute antithesis for a cooler/bouncer. I was transfixed and I just knew I had to become a bouncer!

"Roadhouse" kicked its way into 1980's martial arts resurgence with the likes of Steven Seagall and Chuck Norris. Though, Swayze was different; He was suave and debonair. What really captured my attention was his voice. He possessed a voice that only God bestowed to the elect: Pacino, Eastwood, Brando, and then Swayze. In Dirty Dancing, I remember that his words were few, but powerful. "Nobody puts Baby in the corner" spoken to Jerry Orbach's character as Jennifer Grey grabbed Swayze's arm; simple movie magic.

And if that was not cool enough, we were presented with "Ghost," a movie to define ghost movies. We all transformed into bawling babies when Demi Moore's character was finally able to see Swayze at the very end of the movie before he went to heaven while uttering the unforgettable word, "Ditto."

During the course of a movie career, he struggled with alcoholism after the death of his father in 1982 (by a heart attack), with another blow by his sister, Vicky and her overdose in 1994. He was a licensed pilot and often flew himself to locations.

Patrick was truly a gentleman and a gentle man. He cared deeply about so many things and on so many different levels. He loved his craft - acting - and was so proud too of his wife Lisa whom he respected as a director and fellow artist.

Patrick's body of work was wide and varied as all his fans will know. Through his portrayal of all these characters, he has made us laugh or cry. From the gyrating Johnny Castle of Dirty Dancing to the tear-jerking Sam Wheat of Ghost to the soul searching Max Lowe of City of Joy and of course to the ultimate Southern Gentleman, Orry Main in North and South.

Of all the awards that should be bestowed to Patrick Swayze, he should have an Oscar for his real life performance as a compassionate husband coupled with his empathy for humanity while fighting cancer. In the roadhouse tournament of pancreatic cancer, Swayze earned numerous awards, and will continue to do so.

George "Chris" Cole experienced life as a law enforcement officer with a tour of duty lasting over ten years in law enforcement. He is the survivor of two marriages, and continues to meet new people that provide inspiration for many of his articles and short stories. Many of his articles have appeared in national and local publications.

In 2008, Chris abandoned West Texas and its' "Wal-Mart Trees" (Mesquite bushes that grow plastic bags) to move to the green pastures and real trees of Fredericksburg, Texas. Chris continues to work and hone his writing skills while breathing the fresh air of the hill country.

Mr. Cole can be contacted at kriskohl333@gmail.com.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Anonymous
 2 years 88 days ago.
Funny,as he played a ghost and now,he IS a ghost;(actually,I hope that he's crossed over)A warming tribute article except that in his illness he confessed that he smoked 'grass'to kill some of the pain (and you,as a cop, would have arrested him!)
» left by Chris Cole 2 years 88 days ago.
18 fans.
I would like to think he crossed over, also. In reference to being "Five-O" (police officer), been there, done that; I'm no longer a police officer. THough, I would have never arrested anyone with a prescription for medicinal-use marijuana, especially Patrick Swayze. He would have round-house kicked my ticket book out of my hands! lol. Thank You for your comments.
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