Patrick Swayze danced his way into our hearts and the top of the box office charts with his movie “Dirty Dancing.” Fans fell in love with his quiet charm and silky smooth moves.
He then became one of the most successful actors in Hollywood and spent most of his life in the spotlight. However, many details of Swayze’s personal life remain a mystery, even after he passed away.
For example, many people don’t know Patrick has a secret love child, Jason Whittle. So, if you’d like to learn more about Patrick Swayze’s son, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ll walk you through everything you need about Jason Whittle in this article.
Jason Whittle Profile Summary
| Full Name | Jason Whittle |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of Birth | Springfield, Missouri, US |
| Date of Birth | 7 March, 1975 |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Height | 6’5″ (1.95 m) |
| Parents | Bonnie Kay Whittle and Patrick Swayze |
Jason Whittle’s Parents
To understand Jason Whittle’s life and upbringing, we must take a trip to the past, when his parents first met.
Whittle’s father, Patrick Swayze, is a household name who’s starred in many box office movies. He gave us countless classic hits, such as:
- Dirty Dancing
- Ghost
- Forever Lulu
- Waking Up in Reno
Patrick was even named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine 1991. Yet, he wasn’t always an A-list celebrity.
In 1972, Swayze was a former high school football player passionate about dance. After graduating, he spent most of his time trying to launch his career as a dancer in Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks.
That’s when he met Bonnie Kay Whittle, a 15-year-old high school student who loves the arts. Bonnie was shy but was instantly enamored with Swayze.
He was handsome, charming, and had a way with words. So, the two fell madly in love and started dating.
At one point, Bonnie told her mother, Lebetta Whittle, that she wanted to run away with Patrick, but she was far too young. Lebetta then told Swayze that he could get in trouble with the law because of their age difference and urged the future actor to end the relationship as soon as possible.
While Bonnie and Patrick agreed to separate, they spent a night together as a farewell. This one-night stand would result in a pregnancy, which led to the birth of Jason Whittle. Spoiler alert: Patrick would never know he had a son!
Jason Whittle’s Early Life
Jason Whittle was born on 7 March 1975, after his parents Bonnie and Patrick split up. At that point, Swayze exited the picture, leaving Whittle in the care of his mother and maternal grandmother, Lebetta.
Growing up without a dad was tough on the boy, but Bonnie did everything she could to provide for her son and ensure he didn’t suffer because of his father’s absence.
Jason spent most of his upbringing in his hometown in Missouri, surrounded by friends and family.
Jason Whittle’s Education
When Jason was around 16, his mother Bonnie enrolled him at the Camdenton High School in Missouri. That’s where his love for football began to shine.
Whittle soon joined the Camdenton Lakers school team and played as a guard. This allowed him to develop his talents, rising to be one of the most skilled players in his state.
Thanks to his impressive performance and incredible determination, Jason became an all-state defensive lineman in a flash.
After his high school ended, Whittle wasn’t ready to give up on his football dreams. So, he enrolled in Missouri State University and played letterman for its team, the Bears.
Jason’s four-year stint as a university football player earned him many awards, including the Arthur Briggs Award 1995. Yet, Whittle didn’t stop there.
Jason Whittle’s Career
As soon as Jason graduated college in 1998, he signed with the New York Giants as an under-drafted free agent. This was the start of Whittle’s exceptionally successful career.
He was with the Giants for seven seasons, helping them win two NFC East titles and the NFC Championship in 2000. Next, Jason played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings for one season each. Then, he wrapped up his career playing two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
After 11 years in the NFL as a guard, center, and offensive lineman, Jason retired from sports, leaving behind the field in 2008.
However, this wasn’t the conclusion of Whittle’s career. The end of his NFL journey marked the beginning of a new era in real estate.
When Jason left the Buffalo Bills, he went back to the Lake of the Ozarks. He got his real estate license there and joined RE/MAX as one of its agents. He’s currently leading the Jason Whittle All-Pro Team.
He now specializes in all sorts of properties and has won several awards for his efforts, such as:
- Pinnacle Club
- Diamond Award
- RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement
- RE/MAX Hall of Fame
- RE/MAX Circle of Legends
- Chairman’s Award
Finally, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame welcomed Whittle as an inductee with the class of 2018.
Jason Whittle’s Family
Even though Jason has a famous father and spent most of his adult life in the limelight, he prefers to keep his personal life private. He isn’t active on social media and avoids being on the news when he can.
Despite that, the public has discovered a few details over the years.
For starters, Jason is married. He tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend Natalie at a private ceremony.
We don’t know when or where the wedding occurred, but the couple moved into their home in Osage Beach shortly after the nuptials.
On top of that, Jason and Natalie have six children together: Claire, Olivia, Annie, Mia, Garrett, and Judah.
As for his relationship with his mother, Whittle was close to Bonnie until her passing. However, there was one secret that almost tore the mother-son bond apart.
Bonnie didn’t tell Jason who his father was until her final days.
Jason Whittle Finding Out He’s Patrick Swayze’s Son
Patrick Swayze’s relationship with Bonnie Whittle would have jeopardized his promising career. So, when she found out she was pregnant, Bonnie kept the news to herself and raised the child on her own.
She held onto the secret behind Jason’s dad’s identity for 37 years until she fell ill in 2012. While she was on her deathbed, Bonnie told Jason that his father was Patrick Swayze.
It would be best if you kept in mind that Patrick passed away back in 2009, which means he never found out he had a son.
This didn’t stop Jason from proving his lineage. In 2012, Whittle requested a DNA test that showed he was the biological son of the late actor Patrick Swayze.
Jason Whittle’s Inheritance
Patrick Swayze married American writer and dancer Lisa Niemi in 1975, but the couple never had children. So, when Swayze died in 2009, he left his entire estate to his then-wife.
Yet, after the DNA test, Jason stood to inherit Patrick Swayze’s fortune, estimated at around $40 million at the time of the actor’s death.
Even though Whittle was looking at a multi-million dollar payout, he never pursued legal action toward his late father’s will. Jason never told the public why he didn’t go after his inheritance, but people speculate that it’s because Whittle has a nest egg.
With 11 years in the NFL and more than a decade in real estate, chances are Jason is worth several millions himself.
Wrapping Up
Patrick Swayze’s son, Jason Whittle, spent most of his life not knowing who his dad was. Swayze and Jason’s mom, Bonnie Kay Whittle, had a one-night stand in the early 1970s, which resulted in a surprise pregnancy.
Bonnie kept Patrick’s identity a secret until she was on her deathbed in 2012. While he didn’t know his father, Jason would go on to have a successful career in the NFL and real estate.
