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Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze

Actor, also producer · Died September 14, 2009, aged 57 · Houston, Texas, USA

Patrick Wayne Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. Known for his romantic, tough, and comedic roles in blockbusters and cult films, Swayze was nominated for three Golden Globes and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997. Swayze received recognition for acting in the drama film The Outsiders (1983), the action film Red Dawn (1984), and the miniseries North and South (1985–1986). His breakthrough came with the romantic drama film Dirty Dancing (1987), receiving a Golden Globe nomination. He rose to further prominence in the action films Road House (1989) and Point Break (1991), and received two more Golden Globe nominations for his roles in the supernatural romance film Ghost (1990) and the road comedy film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). He also had a major role in the cult thriller Donnie Darko (2001). Outside of acting, Swayze co-wrote and recorded the song "She's Like the Wind" with Stacy Widelitz for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. He was also recognized for his public image and looks, and was named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine in 1991. On September 14, 2009, Swayze died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. Description above from the Wikipedia article Patrick Swayze, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 18, 1952
Died
September 14, 2009 (aged 57)
From
Houston, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 7% in 30 days

What are Patrick Swayze's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
37%
Self
19%
Morality
18%
Society
13%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 12 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 19 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 15 · Intense 7

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 17 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

33 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 13 of 33 analyzed roles.

Hero
13 of 33
Mentor
7 of 33
Shadow
5 of 33
Ally
3 of 33
Trickster
3 of 33
Herald
1 of 33
Shapeshifter
1 of 33
Show the 33 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Warm
14
Melancholic
10
Joyful
9
Hopeful
11
Other
39

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet17

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Patrick Swayze's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Patrick Swayze's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Powder Blue(2009)

    as Velvet Larry

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Beast(2009)

    Show 13 episodes · as Charles Barker

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • My Best Friend's Girl(2008)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Jump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Richard Pressburger

  • Christmas in Wonderland(2006)

    as Wayne Saunders

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Fox and the Hound 2(2006)

    as Cash (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Keeping Mum(2005)

    as Lance

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Frederick Forsyth's Icon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jason Monk

  • Icon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jason Monk

  • 11:14(2003)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • King Solomon's Mines(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Allan Quartermain

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • George and the Dragon(2004)

    as Garth

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights(2004)

    as Dance Class Instructor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Abby Singer(2003)

    as Patrick Swayze (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Adrian (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Whoopi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony

  • One Last Dance(2003)

    Producer · as Travis MacPhearson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Waking Up in Reno(2002)

    as Roy Kirkendall

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Green Dragon(2001)

    as Gunnery Sergeant Jim Lance

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Donnie Darko(2001)

    as Jim Cunningham

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Forever Lulu(2000)

    as Ben Clifton

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Letters from a Killer(1998)

    as Race Darnell

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Black Dog(1998)

    as Jack Crews

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Three Wishes(1995)

    as Jack McCloud

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar(1995)

    as Vida Boheme

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Eric David Peterson (archive footage)

  • Tall Tale(1995)

    as Pecos Bill

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Father Hood(1993)

    as Jack Charles

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Player(1992)

    as Patrick Swayze (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • City of Joy(1992)

    as Max Lowe

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Point Break(1991)

    as Bodhi / Mask President

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Ghost(1990)

    as Sam Wheat

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Next of Kin(1989)

    as Truman Gates

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Road House(1989)

    as James Dalton

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tiger Warsaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Chuck 'Tiger' Warsaw

  • Steel Dawn(1987)

    as Nomad

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Dancing(1987)

    as Johnny Castle

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Youngblood(1986)

    as Derek Sutton

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • North & South: Book 1, North & South(1985)

    Show 15 episodes · as Orry Main

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric David Peterson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Red Dawn(1984)

    as Jed

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Grandview, U.S.A.(1984)

    Choreographer · as Ernie 'Slam' Webster

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Pigs vs. Freaks(1982)

    as Doug Zimmer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Uncommon Valor(1983)

    as Kevin Scott

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Outsiders(1983)

    as Darrel Curtis

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bandit

  • The Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Bandit

  • Return of the Rebels(1981)

    as K.C. Barnes

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Comeback Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Chuck

  • Skatetown U.S.A.(1979)

    as Ace

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Sturgis · as Pvt. Gary Sturgis

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1972 to 2012; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Ghost (1990)

$506M worldwide

Highest rated

I Am Patrick Swayze (2019)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Ghost (1990)

Film career

19722012

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 21 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 53: 50 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thProducing1 of 53: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 53: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew1990s12 · acting2000s21 · 20 acting · 2 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 50% of 32 roles
83889303

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Patrick Swayze's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Abby Singer (2003)

97th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Donnie Darko (2001)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Patrick Swayze's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles32–79 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles14–53 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles35–82 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles4–50 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles25–61 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Patrick Swayze work with?

People who share at least 2 of Patrick Swayze's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; C. Thomas Howell shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles