Actor Patrick Swayze, who battled pancreatic cancer since last year, died at 57 on Monday.

Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months, his representative told People magazine web site and the Associated Press late Monday.

The actor, who first came to fame for his role in the film Dirty Dancing, and gained even more fame after his part in Ghost, had been working on a cable television series The Beast while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

He was particularly known for his balletic dancing skills displayed in various films.

Cancer