HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — While Patrick Swayze's cancer diagnosis didn't keep him from shooting a new series in "The Beast," the future of the well-received A&E show may very well hinge on the actor's health.
"As has been the case from day one, it is all about Patrick — in a lot of ways," A&E President Bob DeBitetto tells The Associated Press. "It is about his condition, and when and whether he would be up for another grueling production schedule."
The 56-year-old Swayze was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer early last year, but he has refused to give in. Soon after being diagnosed, he spent five months shooting "Beast," in which he stars as an undercover agent. Amazingly, he only missed 1½ days of work after shooting began last July.
"I think everybody thought I was out of my mind, you know, thinking I'm gonna pull off a TV show," Swayze told Barbara Walters in a televised interview last year.
"Everybody had their eyes wide open that, after a few episodes, Patrick just might not be up for continuing: What do you do then? Fortunately, we didn't have to face that," DeBitetto told AP.
While the show's future remains unclear, the A&E boss was quick to praise Swayze for having "the gumption to take on a show like this while undergoing aggressive chemotherapy." No matter what happens after the first season concludes Thursday, DeBitetto said the man behind such films as "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" is a true winner.
"He has already, in a lot of ways, beaten the odds," he said.
- Comment
