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Swayze in 2006, photo by Starfrenzy /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Patrick Wayne Swayze
Date of Birth: August 18, 1952
Place of Birth: Houston, Harris, Texas, U.S.
Date of Death: September 14, 2009
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, along with Scottish and Irish, possibly Dutch
Patrick Swayze was an American dancer, actor, singer, and songwriter. He starred in the films The Outsiders , Red Dawn , Dirty Dancing , Road House , Ghost , and Point Break .
He was the son of Patsy Swayze (born Yvonne Helen Karnes), a choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor, and Jesse/Jessie Wayne Swayze, an engineering draftsman. Among his siblings was actor Don Swayze. He was married to writer, director, actress, and dancer Lisa Niemi , until his death.
It has been written that Patrick had distant Apache Native American ancestry. No documented Native American ancestry is listed in any publicly available family trees of Patrick Swayze.
Patrick was selected People Magazine’s “ Sexiest Man Alive ” in 1991.
Patrick’s surname originates with John Swazey/Swezey/Swasey, who was born, c. 1621, in Sherborne, Dorsetshire, England, and died in Suffolk, New York.
Patrick’s paternal grandfather was Jesse Elijah Swayze (the son of James Wesley Swayze and Sarah E. “Sallie” McDonald). Jesse was born in Kaufman County, Texas. James was born in Mississippi, the son of Alexander Pope Swayze and Amanda Mary Frances Littleton, who was born in Louisiana. Sarah was also born in Louisiana, the daughter of Joseph Joel McDonald and Saphronia/Saphrona Barrett/Castleman.
Patrick’s paternal grandmother was Mamie B. Johnson (the daughter of Duncan/Dunc Malcolm Johnson and Mary Anna McGee). Mamie was born in Talico, Ellis, Texas. Duncan was the son of Peter Johnson and Elizabeth.
Patrick’s maternal grandfather was Victor Elliott/Elliot Karnes (the son of William Charles Karnes and Pearl Lovejoy). Victor was born in Texas. William was the son of Victor Carson Karnes and Frances Helen Turner. Pearl was the daughter of Reason Elliott/Elliot Lovejoy and Martha Lucinda Hornsby.
Patrick’s maternal grandmother was Gladys Mae/May Snell (the daughter of Oscar Snell and Lillian Jones Hughes). Gladys was born in Texas. In one census record, Gladys’ father is listed as having been born in the Netherlands.
Sources: Genealogies of Patrick Swayze – https://www.geni.com http://www.wikitree.com http://www.findagrave.com https://famouskin.com
Patrick’s paternal grandfather, Jesse Elijah Swayze, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Patrick’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Patrick’s maternal grandfather, Victor Elliott/Elliot Karnes, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Victor Elliott/Elliot Karnes on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org