Patrick Swayze has pneumonia and has checked himself into a hospital for observation, it was revealed Friday at a press event for the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.
“As we arrived here this morning we have some news,” said A&E president Abbe Raven. “Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital. However, he asked us specifically to go forward with today’s panel. We wish him the very best with his recovery.”
Bob DeBitetto, the president and general manager of A&E , said that Swayze had decided to check himself into the hospital after he came down with pneumonia.
Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer, had been scheduled to discuss his new show, The Beast.
On an interview that aired Wednesday, the actor told Barbara Walters that his road has been difficult. “You can bet that I’m going through hell,” he said. “And I’ve only seen the beginning of it.”
Swayze, 56, who went public with his diagnosis last March, said the disease has taken an emotional toll. “There’s a lot of fear here,” he said. “Yeah, I’m scared. Yeah, I’m angry. Yeah, I’m [asking], why me.”
Despite his difficult year battling cancer, Swayze is still looking ahead. “I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life,” he said, “not lived in the shadow of cancer, but in the light.”
Colleagues Praise Patrick
At the TCA event in L.A., Swayze’s colleagues on the show opened up about the actor’s personal struggle. “[He’s] been an absolute inspiration, he’s an amazing guy,” said costar Travis Fimmel. “He makes the little things seem not important.”
Bill Rotko, creator of The Beast, said: “Although you forget sometimes that Patrick’s going through treatment for cancer, it brings you very close together. There’s a tremendous amount of respect going on.”
Costar John Romano, added that Swayze gives the show 100 percent. “He’s bringing the force of his own personal struggle into the performance,” he said. “He does it five days a week, 12 hours a day.”SourceÂ