Patrick Swayze back on screen
2008-06-10 11:28
Los Angeles - Patrick Swayze is returning to work.
The 55-year-old actor - who announced he is battling pancreatic cancer in March - will play FBI agent Charles Baker in 13 episodes of hit US TV show The Beast.
In a statement, Swayze said: "I have searched for quite a long time to find a character that is this multi-layered, unpredictable and downright entertaining, as well as a project this current and cutting edged."
Bob DeBitetto, the chief of the A and E network who are making 'The Beast', added: "Obviously, we've had candid conversations with him and his doctors, and we have a fairly high degree of expectation that Patrick will be good to work a full production schedule."
Swayze starred in a pilot episode of the programme in January before announcing his illness, but is now hoping to complete the full 13-episode series.
In The Beast, Swayze's character teaches his rookie partner his unorthodox crime-fighting methods while Baker is secretly being investigated by an Internal Affairs team.
Australian actor and former Tarzan star Travis Fimmel will play Swayze's partner Ellis Dove. Filming is set to begin in Chicago this August. - Bang Showbiz.com