Dancing With the Stars paid homage to the late Patrick Swayze in a special tribute number Wednesday, and contestant Debi Mazar was so touched by the routine she was moved to tears.
"I really cried backstage watching it," Mazar, 45, told Usmagazine.com after Wednesday's tribute by DWTS pros, including Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke, who performed Swayze's iconic Dirty Dancing finale number. The medley also included "She's Like the Wind" from the 1987 film.
Mazar tells Us the show did the late actor — and her pal, Dancing costar Jennifer Grey — proud.
"I'm so glad they did this. Patrick Swayze was such a strong, wonderful man and to see him have cancer and fight til the end is a real testament to human strength and the human spirit," she said. "I know he's dancing with Michael [Jackson] in heaven watching this.
"I know Jen Grey and watching Cheryl Burke dance from behind, she really looked like Jennifer Grey," Mazar added. "I just started getting teary."
DWTS pro Dmitry Chaplin was honored to dance in the tribute.
"It was really special," he told Us. "When I started dancing, I watched Dirty Dancing, and of course it was one of the first things I saw about dancing in the movies. I thought it was so cool! Patrick did a lot for dance and helped programs like this be on today."
Swayze passed away Sept. 14 after a courageous nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.
