Dirty Dancing film star Patrick Swayze has died aged 57, his publicist says.

Annett Wolf said that the US actor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years, died with family at his side on Monday.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage four pancreatic cancer in January last year.

The actor had been starring in US TV show The Beast since being diagnosed with the disease. He had also planned to write a memoir with his wife.

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement by Annett Wolf quoted by the Associated Press.

If anyone has seen any of The Beast you have to take your hat off to the guy for doing the show with the obvious health problems he had.

Swayze made a couple of my favourite films(Next of Kin and Roadhouse) and Dirty Dancing is one of the wife's favs as well.

Rest in Peace Patrick Swayze.