Patrick Swayze new to the business in North and South
Dirty Dancing star was still an acting freshman when he joined the cast of
North and South said co-star Lesley Anne Down to Entertainment Weekly following his death on 14 September 2009. Swayze himself said that the series “blew the lid off” his acting career. Joining the show at the age of 31 in 1985, Swayze spent almost a year on set with fellow actors in South Carolina, before dancing his way onto the A-list.
The 24-hour miniseries tells the story of the events that led up to the Civil War, based on John Jake’s bestselling series of books written in the 1980s. Following the story of two families on both sides of the war – ideologically and physically – North and South illustrates one of the most turbulent moments in US history.
Orry Main, played by Swayze, is a southerner who lives on his family’s plantation near Charleston, South Carolina, where they keep slaves. He meets George Hazard, played by James Read, at West Point Military Academy where they, despite their differences, become friends divided by the ensuing war.
The series won 2 Golden Globes, a number of Emmies and the ASC Award for outstanding cinematography. The hugely popular 24-hour mini-series documents the reasons behind the American Civil War and offers viewers a nostalgic glance at the beginning of Swayze’s successful career.
North and South: The Complete Collection is available from WantItAll at an unbeatable R1,164 or as single DVD sets at approximately R450 each.
