Lisa Niemi
Encyclopedia
Lisa Niemi is an American actress and dancer. She is the widow of actor, singer and dancer Patrick Swayze
. They were married for 34 years, from 1975 until his death in 2009.
She co-starred in Steel Dawn
(1987) with Swayze and co-starred in Beat Angel (2004). Niemi also appeared in Letters from a Killer
, Next of Kin
, Younger and Younger
, Live! From Death Row, She's Having a Baby
and Slam Dance
. She choreographed the films Urban Cowboy
and Grandview, U.S.A.
Niemi directed Dance, a 1990 film.
from 1990 to 1991. She once again directed her husband, this time in an episode of his TV series The Beast
. The episode, titled "My Brother's Keeper", aired on April 9, 2009. It was his last performance before his death.
, The Time of My Life (ISBN 9781439158586). It had been co-written by Swayze, and was finished just shortly before his death.
; the two eventually began dating when she was 15 years old. Niemi and Swayze were married from June 12, 1975 until Swayze's death from pancreatic cancer
on September 14, 2009. Shortly after they wed, the couple moved to New York City
to pursue their dance careers until the late 1970s, when they relocated to Los Angeles, California
. In addition to dancing and filmmaking, they ran a construction business and raised horses together. Swayze and Niemi had no children.
In 1985, Niemi began living on a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) homestead
near the Angeles National Forest
, along with a "menagerie of dogs, prized Arabian horses and rodeo cattle." She also had a 20000 acres (80.9 km²) ranch in New Mexico
.
She is a licensed pilot
and flew Swayze to the cancer
treatments prior to his death. While filming One Last Dance in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Niemi was made an honorary citizen of the Canadian city.
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
. They were married for 34 years, from 1975 until his death in 2009.
Early life
Niemi was born on May 26, 1956 in Houston, Texas, the only daughter and fifth of six children to Finnish immigrants Edmond Melvin Haapaniemi (October 11, 1914 – February 1984) and Edna Karin Hyttinen (born March 17, 1928). Niemi's mother worked as a nurse; she would later cite this as her inspiration and encouragement. She graduated from the Houston Ballet Dance Company in 1974.Films
Niemi wrote, directed and starred in the 2003 film One Last Dance alongside Swayze. One Last Dance was based on Without a Word, a successful play written 18 years before which had won six Drama Critics Awards. Niemi said, "It was basically based on our experiences as concert dancers in New York, and it affected people a lot."She co-starred in Steel Dawn
Steel Dawn
Steel Dawn is a 1987 American post-apocalyptic feature film, with elements of western science fiction.-Plot:An enigmatic swordsman named Nomad , wanders through the remains of a post-World War III world...
(1987) with Swayze and co-starred in Beat Angel (2004). Niemi also appeared in Letters from a Killer
Letters from a Killer
Letters from a Killer is a 1998 film about a man who is falsely convicted of the murder of his wife. During his time in jail, he finds comfort from four women with whom he corresponds...
, Next of Kin
Next of Kin (1989 film)
Next of Kin is a 1989 American action film directed by John Irvin and starring Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson. The screenplay was based on a story of the same title, both written by Michael Jenning.-Plot:...
, Younger and Younger
Younger and Younger
Younger And Younger is 1993 American comedy film directed by Percy Adlon.-Plot:A strange man owns a self-storage facility and lives in a reality of his own until reality comes crashing down.-Cast:*Donald Sutherland.....Jonathan Younger...
, Live! From Death Row, She's Having a Baby
She's Having a Baby
She's Having a Baby is a 1988 American romance film directed by John Hughes.The film portrays a young newlywed couple, Kristy and Jake Briggs played by Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon, who try to cope with being married and what is expected of them by their parents. Jake must also deal with the...
and Slam Dance
Slam Dance (film)
Slam Dance is a 1987 thriller directed by Wayne Wang and starring Virginia Madsen, Tom Hulce, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. It was screened out of competition at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:A married cartoonist named C.C...
. She choreographed the films Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
and Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A. is a 1984 American comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Carole Cook, Ramon Bieri, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmet Walsh, Michael Winslow, Troy Donahue, and Steve Dahl. The original music...
Niemi directed Dance, a 1990 film.
Television
Niemi co-starred as Carla Frost in 23 episodes of the TV series Super ForceSuper Force
Super Force is an action-adventure TV series about a former astronaut who uses an advanced combat suit and motorcycle to fight crime in the city of Metroplex during the year 2020. Among the features of the suit were enhanced strength and armament, whereas the motorcycle had an array of James...
from 1990 to 1991. She once again directed her husband, this time in an episode of his TV series The Beast
The Beast (2009 TV series)
The Beast is an American crime drama series starring Patrick Swayze and Travis Fimmel. It debuted on the A&E Network on Thursday, 15 January 2009 at 10 PM EST. On June 15, 2009, Entertainment Tonight announced that the show was canceled due to Swayze's pancreatic cancer...
. The episode, titled "My Brother's Keeper", aired on April 9, 2009. It was his last performance before his death.
Book
On September 29, 2009, Niemi released a memoirMemoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
, The Time of My Life (ISBN 9781439158586). It had been co-written by Swayze, and was finished just shortly before his death.
Personal life
At the Houston Ballet Dance Company, Niemi met the owner and director's son, Patrick SwayzePatrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
; the two eventually began dating when she was 15 years old. Niemi and Swayze were married from June 12, 1975 until Swayze's death from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
on September 14, 2009. Shortly after they wed, the couple moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to pursue their dance careers until the late 1970s, when they relocated to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In addition to dancing and filmmaking, they ran a construction business and raised horses together. Swayze and Niemi had no children.
In 1985, Niemi began living on a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
near the Angeles National Forest
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
, along with a "menagerie of dogs, prized Arabian horses and rodeo cattle." She also had a 20000 acres (80.9 km²) ranch in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
She is a licensed pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and flew Swayze to the cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
treatments prior to his death. While filming One Last Dance in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Niemi was made an honorary citizen of the Canadian city.