Swayze in Hospital With Pneumonia

"Ghost" star falls ill

Patrick Swayze of "Dirty Dancing" fame, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for much of the past year, checked himself into the hospital after developing pneumonia, it was learned 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 television network president Abbe Raven, reported PEOPLE magazine. "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."

Swayze had been scheduled to discuss his new series, "The Beast," which is slated to debut on A&E on Jan. 15.

A&E president and general manager Bob DeBitetto said Swayze decided to check himself in after coming down with pneumonia.

In an interview that aired Wednesday, Swayze talked about his fight with cancer with Barbara Walters.

"You can bet that I'm going through hell," he said. "And I've only seen the beginning of it."

Nonetheless, the actor remains undaunted.

"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."

VIDEO: Patrick Swayze's Heatbreaking Interview

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