Patrick Swayze died after two-years battle with pancreatic cancer

Dirty Dancing: Patrick Swayze died after two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Patrick Swayze died last night following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Dirty Dancing star’s publicist confirmed he passed away peacefully in LA with his family by his side.

The 57-year-old announced he had the illness in January 2008 but continued to work throughout his treatment and even filmed US drama series, The Beast.

Swayze had said that he opted not to use painkillers while making the programme because he was concerned it would have taken the edge off his performance.

It drew a respectable 1.3million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E TV network said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.

Dirty Dancing co-star Jennifer Grey led tributes today, saying: ‘When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practising the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see.’

Grey, 49, said Swayze – who played Johnny Castle

She added in a statement: ‘It was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.

‘Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace.

‘My heart goes out to his wife and childhood sweetheart, Lisa Niemi, to his mom, Patsy, and to the rest of their family.’

Demi Moore, Swayze’s co-star in the huge movie hit Ghost praised the actor today saying his ‘light will shine forever’.

In the film the actress, 46, played Molly Jensen, the widow of murdered Sam Wheat.

She said: ‘Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives.’