Lisa Niemi Shares Her Journey After Patrick Swayze's Passing

Let me tell you a story about love, resilience, and the power of moving forward. Lisa Niemi, the widow of the legendary actor Patrick Swayze, recently opened up about her decision to remarry in 2014, five years after Patrick’s untimely death from pancreatic cancer. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing when it came to Patrick’s fans, who were understandably passionate about their beloved star.

“Oh, I definitely got a lot of backlash—it was like, ‘How dare you!’” Lisa, now 67, revealed in a candid conversation with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes on the April 8 episode of the "Amy and T.J." podcast. “There are some pretty intense Patrick fans out there who think I’m evil, just because I was married to him. So, yeah, there was a lot of criticism. But you know what? You learn to deal with it and keep moving forward.”

“I was tempted so many times to say, ‘Hey, girlfriend, try walking in my shoes. Tell me how it feels to lose the love of your life and still carry that love with you every single day.’ How could anyone think that because I moved on, I stopped loving Patrick? It’s ridiculous,” Lisa added, her words filled with emotion and honesty.

Read also:
Behind The Scenes Of Good Bones Mina Starsiak Hawk Opens Up About Family Struggles

A Love Story That Started in High School

Lisa and Patrick’s love story began when they were just teenagers, attending high school together in Houston, Texas. They tied the knot in 1975 and stayed together until Patrick’s passing in 2009 at the age of 57. Their chemistry wasn’t just a personal connection—it translated beautifully onto the big screen. The duo starred together in iconic films like Dirty Dancing in 1987 and Steel Dawn the same year. They reunited again in the 2004 film Beat Angel, proving that their partnership was as strong off-screen as it was on.

After Patrick’s death, Lisa eventually met her current husband, Albert DePrisco, through mutual friends about three years later. “If we had met any earlier, it wouldn’t have happened,” Lisa explained. “But after three years, we were both ready. We were introduced by friends we’d known for 30 years who vouched for each other.”

A New Chapter in Life

In May 2014, Lisa and Albert tied the knot in an intimate ceremony surrounded by 50 close family and friends. At the time, Lisa spoke candidly about her decision to remarry. “The love I had for Patrick was never in conflict or competition with my feelings for Albert. That is, until Albert asked me to marry him!” she shared. “Saying yes was a leap of faith for me. I had to grapple with the fact that I’d been married to Patrick for 34 years. It was a lot to process.”

“Albert understood that I would always love Patrick, and he told me, ‘And I know you love me, and I love you.’ How could I not marry this man? As time passed, my doubts faded, and I became more confident in my decision,” Lisa explained, her voice reflecting the peace she found in her new chapter.

Love That Transcends Time

Fast forward nearly a decade, and Lisa told Amy, 51, and T.J., 46, that Patrick is still very much a part of her life. “Patrick is still with me. I still have a relationship with him. He may not be physically here, but every day, I feel his presence,” she said. “What was fascinating was how falling in love with Albert didn’t diminish my love for Patrick one bit. It was unexpected, but beautiful.”

“Losing someone you love doesn’t mean you stop loving them or that you don’t have the capacity to love again,” Lisa added. “Albert and I were fortunate to find someone to share that love with. It’s a gift, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.”