- Patrick Swayze was a famous actor
- He is best known for starring in Dirty Dancing
- Learn more about the story behind his "secret son"
Patrick Swayze was known for his long-term relationship with wife Lisa Niemi. The couple married young in 1975 and remained together for 34 years until the beloved Dirty Dancing star's death in 2009.
The couple had no children together, and it was thought that Swayze left behind no descendants when he passed away. But reports say Jason Whittle, a former NFLer, claims the late actor is his father. Here are the facts of the story and what's known about Swayze's alleged "secret son."
Patrick Swayze's son: Jason Whittle's alleged parentage story
Today, Jason Whittle is 47 years old and lives in Missouri. Public knowledge of his story appears to date back to July 2017. At the time, a Globe Magazine article told the story of Whittle's mother, Bonnie Kay, who on her deathbed revealed that Swayze was Whittle's father. Prior to the news, Whittle never knew his father's identity.
The story goes that Kay and Swayze had a one-night stand that led to Jason's birth — without the actor's knowledge. Adding to the scandalous side of the story, Whittle was born a few months before Swayze's marriage to Niemi in 1975. Some reports also claim Kay was underage when she allegedly met Swayze, but her and Whittle's dates of birth appear to refute the accusation (if there's truth in it to begin with). The numbers:
- Swayze was born in August 1952
- He allegedly conceived Whittle with Kay ca. May or June 1974
- Kay, born May 1956, was likely 17 or 18 at the time
- Whittle was born to Kay in March 1975
- Swayze married Niemi in June 1975 at age 22
Also Interesting:
The two actors stars struggled with each other...
'Dirty Dancing': Did Patrick Swayze & Jennifer Grey Never Like Each Other?
The Patrick Swayze son story: Where it sits now
Several articles suggest Whittle has taken steps toward a DNA test to prove his relation to Swayze. No verified sources have reported on the results or on interviews with Whittle, however. New Idea also links his parentage claim to Lisa Niemi's contested inheritance of her late husband's fortune.
Otherwise, the story appears to rest unconfirmed, and on Whittle's suggested visual resemblance to the legendary actor and dancer. Whittle played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman in the NFL before leaving the league in 2008.
The verdict: Much of the Swayze "secret son" story cites unreferenced sources and tabloid outlets, often without quoting Whittle, either. If any official word ever comes out of it, you can count on hearing it.
