Patrick Swayze

"Game of Thrones" actor Wilko Johnson says his pancreatic cancer is giving him a new appreciation for life. The 65-year-old actor, who plays mute knight and executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on the hit HBO series, announced via his manager on his Facebook page in early January that he'd been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. But now, the diagnosis has given him "an elation of spirit," he told BBC's Radio 4's "Front Row . " "You're walking along and suddenly you're vividly alive.

Ironically, the only thing that makes much sense about the DIY effort "Oconomowoc" is its baffling title. Too bad it takes until the closing credits to learn that moniker simply refers to the Wisconsin berg where the film was shot. But that's how this would-be comedy rolls. Writer-director Andy Gillies' shaggy underachiever alternates between the pointless and the elliptical as the movie sputters out its nominal story of Lonnie Washington (Brendan Marshall-Rashid), a 29-year-old man-child who returns to his hometown without a life plan or, it seems, much of a personality.

Patrick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi Swayze, spoke in Washington this week about a bill that would make pancreatic cancer a federal research priority, according to a CNN report. Swayze died nearly a year and a half ago from the disease, nearly 22 months after being diagnosed. This was actually an uncommonly long amount of time to survive; as the National Center for Biotechnology Information points out, average survival is usually less than a year. That may be in part because pancreatic cancer doesn't manifest symptoms at first and is generally caught at a later stage, according to the center -- and perhaps why it's the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States.

"Game of Thrones" actor Wilko Johnson says his pancreatic cancer is giving him a new appreciation for life. The 65-year-old actor, who plays mute knight and executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on the hit HBO series, announced via his manager on his Facebook page in early January that he'd been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. But now, the diagnosis has given him "an elation of spirit," he told BBC's Radio 4's "Front Row . " "You're walking along and suddenly you're vividly alive.

A small plane piloted by actor Patrick Swayze made an emergency landing and clipped a wing on an empty street in central Arizona on Thursday. Swayze was not injured. Swayze was flying a 1978 twin-engine Cessna 414A from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, N.M., when he was forced to make an emergency landing, said John Clabes, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Sgt. P.J.

Patrick Swayze, the actor and classically trained dancer whose role in the enduringly popular "Dirty Dancing" made him a movie star, one who struggled with the alienation of fame and against being typecast as a leading man, died Monday. He was 57. Swayze, who also starred in the blockbuster film "Ghost," died in Los Angeles with his family at his side, his publicist, Annett Wolf, said. Early last year, Swayze learned he had pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis that came two weeks after production wrapped on the pilot of "The Beast," an A&E series in which he starred as an unorthodox FBI agent.

Patrick SWAYZE, who made his name as the hunky dance instructor-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks in 1987's "Dirty Dancing," will be displaying his moves onstage in Bob Fosse's "Chicago," beginning Wednesday at the Pantages Theatre for a three-week run. To prepare for the role of Billy Flynn, the slick legal eagle popularized by Richard Gere in 2002's Oscar-winning movie, the actor put in a short, unadvertised stint in the Broadway production, his...

A steady stream of acting hopefuls smiled for snapshots and agonized over applications in Fillmore on Thursday for the chance to appear in an old-time Western starring beefy heartthrob Patrick Swayze. A casting agent for the Disney movie, with a working title of "Tall Tale," came to the tiny town seeking extras to fill the screen as loggers, farmers, railroad hands and townspeople.

Though it was not his first film or even his breakthrough -- he'd already had that three years earlier with "Dirty Dancing" -- my favorite memory of Patrick Swayze came in 1990 with the romantic thriller "Ghost" with Demi Moore: He played a man whose love was so strong that, despite being gunned down in the street, he refused to leave this life until he knew she was safe. Like countless other women around the country, I suddenly wanted to buy a potter's wheel, slip into a guy's oversized white shirt and work with clay, the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" playing in the background.

Patrick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi Swayze, spoke in Washington this week about a bill that would make pancreatic cancer a federal research priority, according to a CNN report. Swayze died nearly a year and a half ago from the disease, nearly 22 months after being diagnosed. This was actually an uncommonly long amount of time to survive; as the National Center for Biotechnology Information points out, average survival is usually less than a year. That may be in part because pancreatic cancer doesn't manifest symptoms at first and is generally caught at a later stage, according to the center -- and perhaps why it's the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States.

Swayze scholarship founded The Arabian Horse Foundation has established a scholarship in honor of the late actor Patrick Swayze and his wife, who both owned Arabian horses and competed in shows for several years. The foundation is the charitable arm of the Denver-based Arabian Horse Assn. The scholarship will be awarded each spring to a youth involved with Arabian horses who seeks a performing arts career. It was launched with a pledge from Iron Horse Farms in Canton, Ga. Swayze died in September of pancreatic cancer at age 57. He is survived by Lisa Niemi, his wife of 34 years.

Swayze obituary: The obituary of actor Patrick Swayze in Section A on Sept. 15 said he played Prince Charming in a touring "Disney on Parade" ice show. The "Disney on Parade" shows, performed from 1969 to 1973, took place on wooden floors at arenas.

Thank you to Betsy Sharkey for her tribute to Patrick Swayze ["Dignity More Than a Role for Swayze," Sept. 15]. As we watched his personal struggle unfold in a very public way, the decency and dignity she so eloquently characterized gave meaning to the terrifying yet unifying fact of cancer. His journey is shared by so many others, and his dignity is reflected in the efforts of doctors, nurses, research scientists, fundraisers, activists, healers, families and patients who deal with cancer every day. My thanks to Patrick, his family and those who treated and loved him for maintaining a strong spirit.

Though it was not his first film or even his breakthrough -- he'd already had that three years earlier with "Dirty Dancing" -- my favorite memory of Patrick Swayze came in 1990 with the romantic thriller "Ghost" with Demi Moore: He played a man whose love was so strong that, despite being gunned down in the street, he refused to leave this life until he knew she was safe. Like countless other women around the country, I suddenly wanted to buy a potter's wheel, slip into a guy's oversized white shirt and work with clay, the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" playing in the background.

Patrick Swayze, the actor and classically trained dancer whose role in the enduringly popular "Dirty Dancing" made him a movie star, one who struggled with the alienation of fame and against being typecast as a leading man, died Monday. He was 57. Swayze, who also starred in the blockbuster film "Ghost," died in Los Angeles with his family at his side, his publicist, Annett Wolf, said. Early last year, Swayze learned he had pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis that came two weeks after production wrapped on the pilot of "The Beast," an A&E series in which he starred as an unorthodox FBI agent.

After the movie "Ghost" was released last year, Robert Kibler, head of Glendale Community College's ceramics department, witnessed a leap in enrollment. Although ceramics course cut-backs at other colleges offered a partial explanation, several students explained that the sensual pottery-making scene between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze lured them to the pottery wheel.

Swayze obituary: The obituary of actor Patrick Swayze in Section A on Sept. 15 said he played Prince Charming in a touring "Disney on Parade" ice show. The "Disney on Parade" shows, performed from 1969 to 1973, took place on wooden floors at arenas.

A&E says "The Beast," its police drama with the ailing Patrick Swayze, will not return for a second season. The series, which premiered in January, starred Swayze as a rogue cop in Chicago. Swayze battled pancreatic cancer throughout the 13-episode season's production. The 56-year-old actor is continuing to fight the illness. "The Beast" drew an average audience of about 1.3 million and was not deemed to be a ratings hit.

Patrick Swayze stars as a lawyer in "Jump," which premieres tonight at the Writers Guild Theater as part of the fourth annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. Swayze, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year, is not expected to attend his tribute at the fest, due to health issues. The festival continues through April 30 at various venues in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. www.lajfilmfest.