A 19-year-old Swayze met Lisa Niemi in 1970 at his mother's dance studio and she immediately brought the cocky hunk and his ego down to earth. "She didn't buy any of my nonsense," he's said of their early days. "We spent half our dates in total silence as she wouldn't talk to me if she thought I was putting on an act." Five years later they were married in a simple ceremony. The reception was at the dance studio where they met.
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In 1978, he landed the leading role in 'Grease' and five years later was cast by Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Outsiders.' During that time period, when he wasn't getting many meaty roles, his wife was his rock. "I'd be dead without her," Swayze told PEOPLE in 1984. "She helped me break my self-destructive tendencies. I was an insecure little baby. I don't ever see us apart." Pictured, the pair at the 1979 premiere of 'Skatetown USA.'
Frank Edwards, Getty Images
On a few occasions they were able to work together onscreen, including in the 1987 action film 'Steel Dawn.' "She's my creative partner," he said.
Everett Collection
Even Swayze's costars in some of his biggest films took notice of the strength of their marriage. "They're like a single organism," Kelly Lynch, Swayze's costar in 1989's 'Road House,' told PEOPLE. "She is a strong, strong woman – very funny, very kind, very smart. They love each other and it's apparent. The partnership is for life."
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Their ups and downs included bouts with alcoholism and a devastating miscarriage on Valentine's Day in 1990 that dashed their hopes of ever having children. "We just missed our window; we got so focused on our world and our careers that we missed the boat," he told PEOPLE in 2007.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Swayze looked great dancing with Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing,' but he first practiced all the moves with Niemi. She also inspired him to write the hit track, 'She's Like the Wind.'
Artisan Entertainment / Everett Collection
Swayze's final on-screen performances were in the A&E show, 'The Beast,' when he was in the midst of chemotherapy. Through it all, Niemi was always on the set and even directed an episode. She said: "He was fantastic. He had challenges because he was still doing chemo and it wasn't always easy, but he'd suit up and show up. He was always there ... He treated me like he was honored to show up on my set."
AP / FilmMagic
"A relationship survives because of keeping the friendship alive and learning how to fall in love over and over again and never taking the other person for granted and seeing things in a new light with new eyes," Patrick said in 2007. "We're big believers in, arguments are okay as long as it's not about your ego, but it's about a mutual goal -- trying to create something special."
Bauer-Griffin
"We've always been a team. We raise horses together, run a music business and a wildlife preserve together," Patrick once said of Lisa, both seen in 1979. "We have an unspoken language after all these years."
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"The way he looked at her, the way he held on to her, the way she smiled, I can't really imagine one without the other," Barbara Walters said about spending time with the couple in December 2008 on their California ranch for the TV special Patrick Swayze: The Truth. "That marriage is extraordinary."
Ron Tom, ABC / AP
Patrick Swayze's intense battles with alcohol and depression nearly cost him his marriage earlier this decade, the late actor reveals for the first time in his book 'The Time of My Life,' released Tuesday.
Comments
(129)Add a comment
Wednesday 30 September
By geraldine grant
what a sweet man! this man had problems yes, but he also had a whole lotta character!
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Thursday 01 October
By keegan
yuck he didn't age very well
Thursday 01 October
By Brandi
This comment is actually directed at Keegan-You are STUPID and DISRESPECTFUL. "yuck, he didn't age well" He had cancer! Do you know what a terminal disease does to a person's body? How bout you go get yourself a terminal disease and see how well you "age". People like you should just crawl back in the hole you came out of, same goes for you too Tom! Complete Morons! RIP Patrick Swayze prayers to his family and friends.
Wednesday 30 September
By BrokeDog
Very few of us (in long relationships), don't have "rough patches" that threaten said relationships. Our strength comes from working together to get thru them, and persevere. Then, right when you think you've got the ship righted, you get hit with "cancer" ... very, very tough going!
It appears Patrick and Lisa worked very hard to beat this, and keep re-building their relationship ... and I admire that, deeply! My prayers go out to Lisa and the rest of the family!
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Thursday 01 October
By Allison M. Kramer
Wow, refreshing to find you and some people here on the internet actually have brains...and hearts.
Wednesday 30 September
By David S.
For those who are likely to judge so quickly, no one knows what causes cancer. Yes, excessive alcohol abuse is not good for the body, but plenty of people get cancer who do not drink or smoke. Think of Dana Reeve, Christopher Reeves wife, who didn't smoke and got lung cancer. RIP, Patrick.
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Wednesday 30 September
By mnm
The polio vaccine given from 1955 to 1963 used rhesus monkey kidney cells to prepare the vaccines and were infected with the SV40 virus (Simian Virus-40). SV40 was found to cause tumors in rodents. More recently, the virus was found in certain forms of cancer in humans. (I remember Peter Jennings reporting a few years before he died of cancer about a cancer link to the vaccine and saying he had gotten that vaccine.) There's also a possibility it caused the start of AIDs.
Farrah Fawcett was in the age group to have received it, as was her sister, to have received it. Their mom lived to 93. I think their dad is 94.
Patrick Swayze was also in the age group likely to have received it.
Wednesday 30 September
By CeCe
You're right, David. My aunt died of pancreatic cancer and had never smoked or drank. I had a friend who died of lung cancer who had never smoked and lived in a free household. As for Tom, you probably can't 'wiggle around' or you would. What an idiot.
Wednesday 30 September
By Carol
David, you are so right; however, there are those posting who are quick to judge and get some kind of release from their pathetic lives to point fingers and advise all of us how one should live their life. They are pathetic losers hiding behind a computer screen spewing garbage that no one wants to hear and certainly no one take seriously.
Thursday 01 October
By Maren
been working with cancer patients for over 20 years. 6 out of 9 people who come to our office and who are diagnosed w/cancer all have a tremendous history of stress. Depending on how strong their immune system was when the stress set in, it took anywhere from 1 - 4 years to develop the cancer. Cancer is nothing other than a disease that forms in the weakest part of your body when all is out of balance / immune strength is depleted.
We now specialize in rebuilding immune systems, rather than focusing on killing cancer specifically. It works.
Patrick had a lot of stress with his marriage being on the rocks, that and the alcohol abuse...it did not help either. Thank God they rebuilt their marriage and loved each other to the end. Though far too short, it was a great and loving goodbye.
Wednesday 28 October
By WWJDMB
A couple of things hit me hard on this post. I have never posted any comments before so here goes.
I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer a couple of years ago. Went through treatments and just as everything was getting back to normal, I contracted a muscle disease that caused me to loose the use of my legs for 4 months. Now just 8 months later, I am battled Colorectal Cancer and have to undergo Chemo and Radiation.
I never smoked, I do not drink at all, stay in moderately good health, meaning I carry a few extra pounds but nothing to bad. I am a Christian with a great network of support and friends.
When these things happen, you always say what did I do, why me, what could I have done different. But since there are no concrete answers as to where these things come from and what enviromental things may have caused them you just have to move on. I was reading a book on dealing with cancer from a Christian perspective and one thing really struck me. Cancer is temporary but God's salvation is eternal. So that no matter what happens here on earth we will have eternity with him.
Patrick Swayze died peacefully, dignified and I pray that it was all the way he wished. The press and all others should respect that and be ready to talk when the family is.
Just my $.02.
Bea
Wednesday 30 September
By lori
Really? Surely you aren't truly that cruel in real life. Surely you are just trying to get a rise out of someone...guess it worked. I truly hope you are just playinga cruel joke out of stupidity. I feel sorry for you.
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Wednesday 30 September
By dewey00
Hey, msb - lot's of people care. You're the one that should keep quiet.
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Wednesday 30 September
By paul S.
REST IN PEACE. YOU WERE A GOOD MAN! WE ARE ALL HUMAN.
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Wednesday 30 September
By angie
how unbelievable you are for even saying that. Patrick was a very talented person. No one knows exactly where cancer comes from and you are a very mean and thoughtless person to say that. Obviously you have never lost a spouse or a significant other to cancer. I hope you never do. It is a very horrible and painful thing to go through for the victim and their families. So you should rethink what you just wrote and quit assuming that he got it from dancing. Cancer cells lay dormant until something is triggers it. You need to do your research before you post another stupid and thoughless statement.
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Wednesday 30 September
By Deb
You're an idiot!
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Wednesday 30 September
By Tim
Tom,
I think that is by far the stupidest comment I have ever heard in my entire life. Have you killed all of your brain cells or were you just shortchanged by one or both of your parents?
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Wednesday 30 September
By beatlesfan
It was probably the in-breeding....
Wednesday 30 September
By David
That is the problem with alcohol. Socially, it is acceptable, but when life takes a bad turn, many turn to a bad life. When your only desire is to be unconscious so you do not have to face your problems, alcohol becomes not just a crutch but a companion. At least Swayze had the guts to tell the world it screwed up his life.
DG
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Wednesday 30 September
By Trizone
I don't know how you are supposed to react to news of this magnitude. News telling you that your life is over and you must start counting down the days you have left and say goodbye to those you love, and prepare to go. If there is any way to describe this man's departure, it would be with unbelievable dignity and courage. My thoughts are with those who loved him so much and with those that will miss him. God bless!
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