In this intimate and revealing biography, New York Times bestselling author Wendy Leigh shares the inspiring untold story of Patrick’s incredible life: his show business childhood, his fairy-tale love affair with wife Lisa Niemi, his catapult into alcoholism after his father’s untimely death, the daredevil exploits, and his courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, which claimed his life on September 14, 2009.

Ever since the steamy low-budget film Dirty Dancing skyrocketed Patrick to fame and cemented his place in the hearts of audiences around the world, he has been one of our most cherished public figures. Based on interviews with countless sources who have never spoken about Patrick before—from the Texas beauty who shared his first kiss, to the woman he almost married, to the manager who worked closely with him from his teen idol days until his romantic tour de force in Ghost and many more—Leigh unveils surprising details about the charismatic actor’s life ?on- and off-screen. Beginning with his training as a dancer with his choreographer mother and spanning his remarkable—and at times challenging—career, this groundbreaking biography of the unforgettable entertainer is the mesmerizing, enduring, and definitive story of a man who captured the hearts of millions of fans.