DIRTY Dancing star Patrick Swayze was described as a star whose “light will shine forever” as Hollywood mourned his death.

The 57-year-old died yesterday with family members by his side after losing a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.Swayze shot to fame in 1987 with his performance as Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing.

Co-star Jennifer Grey said: “Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace”

The film is a firm favourite with young and old, and his line “nobody puts Baby in a corner” is one of Hollywood’s most quoted.

 Swayze kept on working even after it was disclosed that he had the particularly deadly form of cancer.Other notable performances include romantic comedy Ghost, surf thriller Point Break and as a drag queen in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar.In 2006, Swayze made his debut on the British stage, in Guys and Dolls in the West End, in London, opposite Claire Sweeney.

The Liverpool actress described Swayze as “a wonderful, brave man, a great talent and a sensitive and caring friend.”