Hollywood stars have expressed sadness at the passing of Patrick Swayze, who died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57 yesterday.

Demi Moore, who starred opposite Swayze in 1990's tear-jerker Ghost, led the tributes.

"Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives," she wrote on Twitter.

"In the words of Sam to Molly: 'It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' I love and will miss you Patrick," she added.

Whoopi Goldberg, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Ghost, said that - as in the film - Swayze will "always be near."

"Patrick was a really good man, a funny man and one to whom I owe much that I can't ever repay," she said.

"I believe in Ghost's message, so he'll always be near."

In the movie, Swayze's slain character communicates with Moore via Goldberg, who plays a psychic.

Swayze shot to superstardom in 1987 with Dirty Dancing, an international blockbuster in which he played a dance teacher to a young wallflower who wants to bloom.

Co-star Jennifer Grey described Swayze as a "real cowboy with a tender heart."

"When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids - dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no-one would ever see," she told People magazine, adding that Swayze was so fearless doing his own stunts that "it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified."

Drew Barrymore, who starred with Swayze in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, learnt of her co-star's death during a press conference at the Toronto Film Festival.

"I'm in a bit of a shell-shocked state myself," she said.

"I feel as though I'm the wrong person to [comment] because it's such a personal thing for people who are close to him, but I met him when I was seven years old. He was the nicest man that one could ever, ever know.

"He was a hero to us all - from The Outsiders to all the wonderful films that he made. He was a pleasure to work with in Donnie Darko.

"Our blessings are with the people around him that knew him and loved him the best," she added.

In Hollywood, meanwhile, flowers have been placed on Swayze's star set into the sidewalk on the Walk of Fame.

There California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to a "talented and passionate artist who struck a memorable chord with audiences throughout the world."

"He played a wide range of characters both on stage and in movies and his celebrated performances made the hard work of acting look effortless - which I know from experience is not easy," Schwarzenegger added.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage four pancreatic cancer in January 2008.

The actor bravely fought the disease in the public eye, continuing to work despite treatment and significant weight loss.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi.

- AFP/Reuters