However, the release of the surprise hit Dirty Dancing (1987) brought Swayze instant celebrity and established him as Hollywood’s newest heartthrob. The film featured him as the misunderstood dance instructor Johnny Castle, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 1989, Swayze starred in two action features, Road House and Next of Kin, which both enjoyed modest success at the box office. A year later, he fought for and won the lead role in Jerry Zucker’s romantic drama Ghost (1990). The film, which co-starred Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, revived Swayze’s struggling career. Ghost grossed over $200 million and earned Swayze a second Golden Globe nomination. In 1991, Swayze’s popularity was confirmed when he adorned the cover of People magazine as “The Sexiest Man Alive.” He later partnered with Keanu Reeves in the action-adventure Point Break (1991), followed by 1992’s City of Joy. Both films met with moderate success, and Swayze’s rise to superstardom seemed to taper off for the next few years. In 1995, Swayze teamed up with fellow actors Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo to play a trio of drag queens in the comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Swayze’s performance as Vida Boheme won him a third Golden Globe nomination in 1996. In 1997, Swayze broke his right leg in a horse-riding accident while filming Letters From a Killer (1998). In the late 1990s, his poor film choices, combined with a serious drinking problem, severely hampered his career. He admitted himself into a rehab clinic, after which he and his wife Lisa retreated to their ranch in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Texas. Despite his struggles, he continues to make films and his recent projects include the romantic comedies Forever Lulu (2000), with Melanie Griffith, and Wakin’ Up In Reno, costarring Natasha Richardson and Charlize Theron.