Patrick Swayze widow, Lisa Niemi Swayzehe shares his thoughts on the future Dirty Dancing succession.
“I actually read the script,” Lisa, 69, said to herself Us Weekly while discussing Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s annual Purple Stride Walk. “It really touched me.”
Patrick, who died in 2009 after a 22-month battle with pancreatic cancer aged 57, starred in the original 1987 film as Johnny Castle, a passionate but closeted dance instructor who falls in love with. Jennifer Grey Frances “Baby” Houseman at a resort in the 1960s. Gray, 66, announced earlier this year that a new franchise installment is in the works.
Despite the doubts of some fans, Lisa told Us that the upcoming sequel finds ways to include Patrick in the story, noting that he appreciates the way we “handled” Johnny’s character.
“I’ll be curious to see how it goes,” he added. “I wish [them] good luck. They have been working on it [for] for a long time. And I can’t wait to see you.”
Lionsgate confirmed in January that a follow-up to the beloved film will begin production later in the year, with Gray reprising his role as Baby and serving as an executive producer. The Hunger Games and Crazy Rich Asia producers Nina Jacobson again Brad Simpson will reproduce, with Kim Rosenstock writing text.
“The role of Baby has held a very deep and meaningful place in my heart, as it has in the hearts of many fans over the years,” Gray shared in a press release in January. “I’ve long wondered where we would find Baby years later and what his life would be like, but it took time to assemble the kind of people I felt I could entrust to build on the legacy of the first film.”
The announcement was met with backlash from some dedicated fans, who expressed disappointment that a new film was being made without Patrick. Some called it “disrespect”, saying there is none Dirty Dancing except for Patrick Swayze.” Some have pointed out that it is a 2004 sequel, titled Havana Nightsis already there and features Patrick in a supporting role.
Gray spoke to different people when he spoke to him People earlier this year, promising that all of his previous assets would remain.
“All I can say is that no one is going to replace anyone who has passed — you never try to replicate anything as magical as that,” he told the outlet at the time. “You just go looking for something different.”
Patrick, after all, is not alone Dirty Dancing a cast member who has passed away since the film premiered. Jack Westonwho played resort owner Max Kellerman, and Max Cantorwho appeared as the waiter Robbie, both died in 1996. Jerry Orbachwho played Baby’s father Dr. Jake Houseman, died in 2004. This film has also played Kelly Bishop, Cynthia Rhodes, Jane Brucker, Wayne Knight, Lonny Price, Neal Jones again Miranda Garrison. It has not been confirmed whether they will return or not.
Lisa is happy that her late husband lives on in people’s hearts, even almost twenty years after his death. Patrick still comes to her “all the time” to express their love for her, which is welcomed with open arms.
“People will say, ‘Patrick was my favorite actor. I loved Patrick so much when I was X years old.’ And I love that people still love them so much,” she said Us. “I always reply, ‘You have really good taste.'”
A large part of Lisa’s life is about keeping Patrick’s spirit alive, including her advocacy with PanCAN, an organization she describes as a “one-stop shop” for pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers.
“It gave me a last resort [Patrick’s] fighting on, because he fought like hell to be here, and just because he was gone didn’t mean the fight was over,” Lisa recalls of her first encounter with the nonprofit shortly after the Ghost actor’s death.
Next on his schedule is PanCAN’s Purple Stride fundraiser, which will be held on April 25 this year. The annual 5K is held in more than 50 communities and has raised more than $17.6 million to date.
“These people seem to have strength and joy and love and affection, love for their loved ones,” said Lisa Us of the event. “They represent all the people who are fighting this disease and all the people who have lost it. And it’s really inspiring and amazing.”
