Los Angeles - Well-known actor and dancer Patrick Swayze died today, Sept. 14, in Los Angeles. He was 57-years-old. Swayze finally succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed in 2008. The actor's credits included "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," as well as the "North and South" television miniseries, among others.

The son of a rodeo cowboy, Jesse Wayne Swayze, and choregrapher/ballet-school owner, Patricia, Swayze was born on Aug. 18, 1952, in Houston, TX. He and his wife, Lisa Niemi, were married in 1975. Swayze studied gymnastics at San Jacinto College, and trained as a dancer at Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools in New York.

In 1991, Swayze was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. At the time of his death he was working on a book with his wife. His last role was the lead in an A&E TV series, "The Beast," which premiered on Jan. 15, 2009, and was cancelled in June.

The Golden Globe nominated performer is survived by his wife, his brother Donald and his mother.