Patrick Bissell (1957–1987). American dancer

Patrick Bissell was born in Texas in 1957. He was a fine athlete but at a young age decided to choose dance over sport. His talent was spotted early on by New York City Ballet’s Edward Villella, and he later won a scholarship to train at the School of American Ballet in New York, where he was taught by Stanley Williams. Bissell joined American Ballet Theatre in 1977, where he danced many leading roles in the company’s extensive and diverse repertoire. He also appeared as a guest artist with various companies, notably National Ballet of Canada, Scottish Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Patrick Bissell died of a drug overdose in 1987.