Patrick Bissell

Patrick Bissell
Patrick Bissell and Galina Samsova dancing the lead roles at the premiere of Cheri at the 1980 Edinburgh Festival.
Born
Walter Patrick Bissell

(1957-12-01)December 1, 1957
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 29, 1987(1987-12-29) (aged 30)
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Cause of deathDrug overdose
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active1977–1987
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Spouse
Jolinda Menendez
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(m. 1982; div. 1983)​

Walter Patrick Bissell (December 1, 1957 – December 29, 1987) was an American ballet dancer. He was a leading principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. On his death at age 30 from a drug overdose,[1] he was described by the artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre and personal ballet eminence Mikhail Baryshnikov as "without a doubt one of the brightest lights in American Ballet Theater's history, or, for that matter, in the entire ballet world".[2] Bissell was noted for his height and athleticism. His most famous role was as Solor in La Bayadère. His death prompted investigations into the alleged widespread drug use within the American Ballet Theatre.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference cause was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference death was invoked but never defined (see the help page).