Patrick Swayze: Life In Pictures

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner!" With those words, Patrick Swayze wrote himself into celluloid history courtesy of his role as Johnny Castle in 1987 mega-hit Dirty Dancing.

The 57-year-old battled pancreatic cancer for two years, dying with members of his family (including Lisa Niemi - his wife of 30 years) by his side. Despite his illness, he continued to work. One of his final projects was US television series The Beast. He had also been working on a memoir.

Patrick Wayne Swayze was born in Houston, Texas in 1952. He learned to dance at his mother's dance school where future wife Lisa Niemi became a fellow student. The couple, who wed in 1975, had one of Hollywood's longest marriages.

Patrick Swayze's battle with pancreatic cancer made headlines around the world. He had hoped to live long enough for a cure, but that wasn't to be. However, he will forever be associated with two of the biggest popcorn hits of recent years. We take a look back at Patrick Swayze's life in the spotlight in our gallery.

• Patrick Swayze obit
• Video: Patrick Swayze remembered