Patrick Swayze’s Biggest Career Regret: The Role That Got Away

Some actors are lucky enough to leave their mark on a handful of truly unforgettable films. Patrick Swayze, who passed away at 57, managed to do just that—several times over. His turn in the 1987 romance Dirty Dancing may have left critics unmoved, but it’s hard to imagine the 1980s without it. Then came Ghost in 1990, a modestly budgeted supernatural drama that somehow became a box office juggernaut. Add to that The Outsiders, Road House, and Donnie Darko, and you’ve got a CV most actors would envy.

Yet, for all his success, Swayze never quite shook off the sting of missing out on one particular part. Early in his career, a film came along that seemed almost uncannily suited to him. The project in question? 1980’s Urban Cowboy—not to be confused with Midnight Cowboy—which centres on a young Texan living in Houston with a passion for dancing. Swayze, a Houston native who’d trained in classical ballet since childhood, saw himself in the role. It felt, to him, as if the script had been written with his name on it.

Missed Chances and Familiar Faces

Instead, Swayze found himself in Los Angeles, tied up with Skatetown, USA, a roller-disco musical that now feels like a relic of its era. Meanwhile, the lead in Urban Cowboy went to John Travolta, fresh off his own success with Grease. The overlap between their careers was hard to ignore. Swayze had just finished playing Danny Zuko on Broadway, only to watch Travolta take the same role to the big screen. Losing out on Urban Cowboy to the same man was, as he saw it, a double blow.

But there was more to it than professional rivalry. Swayze’s mother, Patsy, was the choreographer for Urban Cowboy, and she’d brought in Swayze’s partner, Lisa Niemi, to work alongside her. So, while he was stuck in LA working on a film he didn’t much care for, his mother and future wife were back in Houston, involved in a project he felt was his by rights. The frustration was palpable.

Personal Ties and Lingering Regrets

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Swayze once admitted,

“It tore me up to think of what I could have done with that character and how it would have launched my career,”

before adding,

“Country dancing was in my DNA, and as much as I liked John, I hated giving someone else tips on how to play a role I was born for.”

Despite the disappointment, Swayze didn’t let resentment fester. As soon as filming wrapped on Skatetown, he made his way back to Houston. Any lingering animosity towards Travolta faded quickly when they finally met, with Swayze even offering a few pointers on the dance floor.