One of Patrick Swayze’s toughest moments was the death of his beloved father in 1982, but other deaths haunted him similarly. For example, his unborn son’s death wreaked havoc on Swayze’s mental state and pushed him further toward alcohol. Four years later, his sister Vicky’s death left him reeling and created feelings of guilt. “Her death changed my life,” Swayze said in an interview with The Daily Mail. “It was hard not to feel responsible, that I could have done something to prevent it. The longer your life goes on, the more death you face. After my father, my manager, and then my sister died, I started to feel like I was cursed.”
Though he experienced many good things, his difficulties shaped who he was, and he was understandably shaken when his sister committed suicide in 1994. Not only was that a horrific situation in general, but Swayze had already assumed much responsibility for his sister then. The two were very close, and Swayze paid for all of his older sister’s medical bills and living expenses. “I had to find something to believe in, outside of myself, to beat the guilt and blame I felt — particularly in Vicky’s case,” he said. “The only thing you can do in those circumstances is to find some kind of meaning.”
Read Related Also: Owners of Kentucky Derby-winning horse list Hamptons estate for $7.75M
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
