MovieChat Forums > Patrick Swayze Discussion > Why'd his star power drop so fast?

Why'd his star power drop so fast?

posted 8 years ago by mickfarm
28 replies | jump to latest

I know other actors' stars have crashed and burned pretty quickly, either due to a personal issue (ie Mel Gibson) or through a major bomb (ie Ben Affleck with Gigi)...but what happened to Patrick? He went from a string of hits culminating with ghost and point break and then made a small drama (city of joy)...and then nothing but the kind of stuff people get thrown at them when they're no longer stars, like father hood. So what killed him? It shouldn't have been city of joy, plenty of actors have those "small" dramas they put out from time to time and they aren't usually career killers.

[–] PixieInChains 8 years ago

He was one of those with a nice "screen presence", but limited talent. His brother is much better. Seriously though, he came along when a lot of really talented people appeared, so his looks couldn't supercede his lack of acting ability. Unfortunately, today we are in a period where "fame" is more important than talent (as well as the fact that so many people are trend-suckers who believe that if one is 'famous' they just have to be the greatest actor or actress ever known), so we have a MULTITUDE of untalented people on the 'A-list'. If he came around now he just might make it.

[–] kick4gwar 8 years ago

Couldn't disagree with your opinion more. Totally based on biased conjecture, not fact.
The fact is, Swayze was highly talented. A calculated and trained actor, dancer, and fighter, with a wide dynamic range for versatility.
The reason he seemed to be in the spotlight less up to The Beast, is because he could pick and choose his roles due to his previous success.
He didn't need the money. His later work was more dependent on whether or not he cared about the people he was working with.

[–] Narcissist00 8 years ago

AIDS

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

He didn't have AIDS. He died of cancer

[–] catdaddyd 8 years ago

Too Wong Foo killed his career.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

No it didn't, "To Wong Foo" showed his comedic abilities

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

I haven't seen Wong Foo. Not that big into cross-dressing. But I did see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and I thought it was innovative and touching. If Wong is as good, and I admire PS for being femme here, I should make an appointment.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I thought it was a good film with a lot of heart

[–] beavis (3249) 5 years ago

just watched the trailer, oh man didn't realize that was john leguizamo, thought it was legit

[–] TMC-4 (19392) 3 years ago

I recently heard the argument that Too Wong Foo likely alienated his conservative audience.

https://www.quora.com/In-the-early-1990s-Patrick-Swayze-s-career-was-going-gangbusters-having-starred-in-the-hits-Ghost-and-Point-Break-By-2000-however-he-was-no-longer-bankable-Was-there-any-particular-movie-that-killed-his-career?__filter__=all&__nsrc__=1&__sncid__=13757035150&__snid3__=19508759888

[–] vegetol-mp 8 years ago

I read a interview with him and he said, that he stop making big movies, because he dont like to be in public spotlight. At the time, he stop drinking and feel, that if he want to stay sober, he must start making smaller movies with smaller public attention.

[–] kieran_bkr 7 years ago

So what your saying is pats brother is ugly

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Bad movie choices, coupled with the fact that he was already late 30s when he made it, therefore he wasn't going to be a hearthrob for young girls much longer. Yes, he looked 40s in the 90s and Hollywood prefers leading men to not look middle aged.

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

Pretty much he hit it big when he was 33 years old in Red Dawn, he was 37 I think when Dirty Dancing came along. 40 when Ghost did. I don't think it was all down to age, a lot of leading men hit it big these days in their middle 30's.

Bad movie choices. Probably not taking on more riskier roles to prove his acting chops, a bit like Gosling, Gyllenhaal and Hardy do today. Do one for the Studio and do a more indie/Art house film to show off the acting chops. But he fell down the lane of doing a lot of action b movies and not so good comedies and dramas, while his Point Break co star Keanu Reeves went on to make some of the greatest action films of all time like Speed, The Matrix and John Wick films. He also took risks which Patrick didn't. You can say Reeves isn't a good actor but he's still today a big name in Hollywood.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

We know but his career did drop off before he died HASH. You do get that don't you lol.

[–] ebhaynz (3525) 5 years ago

He got older, had troubles with alcohol and a controlling wife. He slowed down enough to take care of his horses and keep somewhat domestic bliss. He was a badass and didn't need to prove anything to anyone.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

I think Patrick Swayze had a fantastic career. Not that he was Cary Grant, (Pat didn't seem to work with notable directors), but he commanded the screen. The only unfortunate part is he performed in the 80s. There are certain looks and styles associated with that period that make them dated. But Pat had tons of appeal and charisma.

[–] TandyMan (10335) a year ago

I do think it was age more than anything. Swayze broke late. We love him but there was a lot of up and coming young handsome talented men getting the juicy roles. And not just Swayze's age, but the demographic age of women who liked him.

I think the real problem with Swayze is the perception he ever had a huge career in the first place. It just so happens that many of his films have become beloved classics. But these wern't exactly tentpole blockbusters he was turning out. He was more the king of VHS rentals.

[–] BillySlater (4096) 5 years ago

Interesting theory but don´t think it holds water, since he literally didn´t have time to age because his career died straight after Point Break, yes he was almost 40 but he was still relatively youthful looking. I believe he chose to pick smaller roles because he wanted to live on a ranch with his wife. Hollywood wasn´t important to him. If Russell Crowe can still be a leading man as an overweight 50-something year-old, then so could have Patrick Swayze.

[–] cyguration (3834) 7 months ago

I agree with this assessment.

Almost everyone I knew who was into movies always wondered about what happened to Patrick Swayze? It's not like 50+ people stop watching movies, and we've seen plenty of old-timers still command the screen and box office well past their prime (i.e., Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Tommy Lee Jones, Ian McKellan, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, etc.)

I think Swayze just decided he didn't want to be in the limelight. Whenever he did return to a project it almost always had eyes on it; The Beast was a show that was critically acclaimed and had a lot of people talking about it.

I do think stuff like Too Wong Foo hurt his image in the eyes of action fans, but he somewhat rebounded with Black Dog, not unlike how Wesley Snipes rebounded with Blade or John Lequizamo with Executive Decision. He could have parlayed that into any number of roles but decided to mostly go quiet for a spell.

[–] MrRockStone (89) 3 years ago

He had his 7 years on top. That is the lifespan of a Hollywood action / drama star. Very few make it past the 7 year mark. He started in 1987 and had a great run.

[–] TandyMan (10335) 7 months ago

He definitely would have had a resurgence had he not gotten ill. Hollywood loves to bring back an older actor for a comeback and it's specifically mining his era of film now. Does Swayze make you remember the 80s? Come see this new movie, you're gonna love it!

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71430) 7 months ago

Yep, Swayze was totally 80s and he was great. Point Break, Ghost, Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing are all terrific movies. Had he not gotten sick he'd likely still be working today, the guy had screen charisma, he was very cool.

[–] MCguy (933) 7 months ago

"7 years on top" is a great career. Most SAG members would sell their soul for that level of success. Some laymen just don't get it.