(Jan. 9) -- Actor Patrick Swayze, who's publicly battling pancreatic cancer, was admitted to the hospital on Friday for pneumonia just before he was scheduled to make a press appearance for his new show.

Swayze was supposed to be doing a press junket for A&E's 'The Beast.' A&E's Abbe Raven announced the news about Swayze's hospitalization Friday at a meeting of the Television Critics Association.

A&E programming senior vice president Robert DeBitetto added some more details. "Patrick has asked that I tell you that this morning he checked himself into the hospital for observation. Chemotherapy can take its toll on the immune system, and illnesses are a part of that. Patrick wishes me to tell you that he's very sorry he cannot attend, but plans to get back to promoting 'The Beast' soon. He thanks everybody for the outpouring of support. We hope to see him back on his feet soon."

Swayze's spokeswoman, Annett Wolf, confirmed that Swayze was in the hospital but would not provide additional details.

"In light of the news today, it's a bump in the road," said Vincent Angell, one of the show's co-executive producers. "We wish him all the best."

Swayze's 'Beast' co-star Travis Fimmel added that Swayze's "fearless, an icon. I can't say enough good things about the guy. He's an inspiration. He makes the little things seem so not important." Fimmel and Swayze have completed their first season work on 'The Beast' and A&E execs say they hope to make a second season with Swayze reprising his role.

Just this week, Swayze, 56, spoke candidly in an interview with Barbara Walters, telling her he wasn't sure he'd live more than two years more. In that interview, he told Walters: "You can bet that I'm going through hell ... and I've only seen the beginning of it."He went on to say that there's "a lot of fear" caused by his cancer. "Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking], 'Why me?'"