Person Biography:
Donald Carl Swayze, known professionally as Don Swayze, was born on August 10, 1958, in Houston, Texas, to Patsy Swayze, a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jesse Wayne Swayze, an engineering draftsman. He was the middle child of four siblings, including his older brother, the late Patrick Swayze, and younger brother, Sean Swayze, as well as two sisters, Vickie Lynn and Bambi Swayze.
Early Life and Career:
Swayze began his acting career in the 1980s, appearing in various TV shows and movies. Unlike his older brother, Don often played violent and unsavory characters. His early roles included appearances in Street Hawk, The Fall Guy, L.A. Law, and Matlock.
Film Career:
Swayze's first film role was in Andrei Konchalovsky's Shy People (1987) as Mark. During the 1990s, he guest-starred in a number of TV shows, including Columbo, Renegade, Murder, She Wrote, NYPD Blue, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Profiler. He also worked as a stunt man, appearing as a stunt player in Letters from a Killer (1998) and playing a fictional version of himself in Movie Stars (1999).
Television Career:
In the 2000s, Swayze continued to appear in TV shows, including The X-Files, The Division, NCIS, CSI: Miami, and Without a Trace. He also had recurring roles in HBO's Carnivàle (2003) as Tattooed Man, in True Blood (2008) as Gus, a werewolf, and in The Bridge (2013) as Tampa Tim. He also played a serial killer, Charles Hankel, in two episodes of Criminal Minds (2005).
Stage Career:
Swayze has also appeared on stage, including a 2001 production of "Man of La Mancha" as Pedro and a 2005 production of the comedy "Lone Star" as Roy.
Personal Life:
Swayze has been married twice, first to Marcia Swayze from 1985 to 1993, with whom he has a daughter, Danielle. He has been married to Charlene Swayze since 2014.
Recent Work:
In recent years, Swayze has appeared in a number of films, including Heathens and Thieves (2012),Ambush at Dark Canyon (2012),Lizzie (2012),and The Appearing (2014). He has also continued to work in television, appearing in shows such as The Bridge (2013) and Criminal Minds (2005).
