Most people are familiar with Patrick Swayze. Even if you didn’t grow up during the time when he was releasing movies, such as Dirty Dancing, you have certainly seen the repeats as they play frequently.
Unfortunately, Patrick Swayze lost his life to pancreatic cancer in 2009 but it seems as if he left something behind that most people are not familiar with. It is his younger brother, who is now 61. His name is Donny Swayze and he is practically his twin.
According to the New York Times, Patrick Swayze was 57 years old when he died of pancreatic cancer. His wife, Lisa Niemi, and three siblings were left behind. Those siblings included a younger sister named Bambi and two brothers, Donny and Shawn.
Most people are not familiar with Donny, but he has more in common than his looks when it comes to his older brother, Patrick. He also is an entertainer and is starred in a number of films, including Pontiac Moon in 1994.
In speaking with Access Hollywood, Donny spoke with Billy Bush about the death of his brother. He said that he thought there was peace at the end and went on to say: “But he had been fighting for his life up ’til, just I mean, ’til he couldn’t fight any longer.”
Patrick was not given long to live when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He worked very hard on his health and did what he could, surviving for some two years after the diagnosis.
According to ABC News, Dr. Lucas Wong, co-director of the gastrointestinal cancer program at Scott & White Memorial Hospital & Clinic in Temple, Texas said that the median survival for someone with pancreatic cancer is likely five months.
The active lifestyle of Patrick may have helped him to live as long as he did. Donny also said: “He was just such a force. He had an opinion about everything! He had a strong personality. My big brother was just bigger than life.”
Sources: ABC News, Access Online, New York Times