Patrick Swayze was Tough, Tender in Roles

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were few actors as popular as Patrick Swayze, and none could combine his ability to appeal to males for his action flicks while also making "chick flicks" to which women would drag their dates.

Swayze lost his battle with pancreatic cancer Monday, but he will live on forever in his films and, through those, our hearts. He had numerous television appearances, including M*A*S*H, "Renegades," "The Beast" and unforgettable stints on "Saturday Night Live." His film roles included "Youngblood," "Uncommon Valor," "Point Break," "Next of Kin" and "Steel Dawn." However, the movies below are some of his best and should be checked out by anyone wanting to pay tribute to him or remember what a talent he had.

5. "Red Dawn" - Released in 1984, this Cold War era movie depicted a Russian-Cuban invasion of the United States. The attack is such a surprise it overwhelms the U.S. military at first. The only remaining defense, at least in Colorado, is a group of high school kids. Swayze's character, Jed, leads the group, waging guerilla warfare against the invaders. Also stars C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson and Charlie Sheen. A remake, starring Chris Hemsworth as the character Swayze played, is in the works and scheduled for a release in 2010, though this time the invading force will be Chinese and Russian troops.

4. "Roadhouse" - "Pain don't hurt." Those are just some of the philosophical musings of tough, but smart, head bar bouncer Dalton, played by Swayze in this 1989 release. Dalton makes his living going from one tough, trashy bar after another and turning them into respectable establishments that can actually make money. Dalton's theory on bouncing at bars is to get the trouble makers outside and the bouncers should "be nice - until it's time to not be nice." He finds himself working for one in a relatively small town. The town is completely owned by Brad Wesley, whose hired goons Dalton must fight. Also starring are Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliot and Ben Gazzara.

3. "The Outsiders" - An incredible cast highlights this 1983 film about young boys, known as "greasers" for their slicked back hair, growing up outside of society. C. Thomas Howell is Ponyboy, and Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise and Diane Lane also star. Swayze is Darrel Curtis, the oldest of a set of brothers. After losing their parents, it is up to Darrel to try to raise his brothers, who get into trouble after a rumble with a rival gang ends up with a death.

2. "Ghost" - After Sam Wheat, Swayze, is killed during a botched mugging, his partner, played by Demi Moore, is devastated. However, Sam's love for her keeps his spirit on earth, and he finds himself dealing with a psychic (Whoopi Goldberg), other trapped spirits and thugs who are after the love of his life. Pottery became sensual because of this flick, "Unchained Melody" was huge again and Swayze was at his most tender. Women love it, and men do too, they just don't admit it as often.

1. "Dirty Dancing" - "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." Baby was Jennifer Grey, a rich kid on vacation with her parents at a very upscale resort. Swayze was Johnny Castle, the head dancing instructor at the resort. The "help" and the visitors were not supposed to mingle, but Baby and Johnny do as he starts out teaching her some forbidden dance moves. A killer soundtrack, hot dance moves and even hotter chemistry between Swayze and Grey made this one of the top movies of the late 1980s. It also spawned a much less successful sequel in 2004. Swayze even sang on the soundtrack.

Source:www.imdb.com