Patrick Swayze’s Widow Pays Tribute to ‘Dirty Dancing’ Star

Who knew 2022 would be the year of ‘Dirty Dancing’ headlines?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11 : Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi arrive at the Academy Awards, April 11,1988 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Who knew 2022 would be the year of Dirty Dancing headlines?

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With the recent re-release of the original and a sequel confirmed for next year, one more newsworthy event just happened around the musical classic’s’ 35th anniversary. Lisa Niemi, widow of star Patrick Swayze, recently talked about him to Entertainment Tonight on his birthday on Thursday.

“I don’t think there’s anything I don’t miss about him,” Niemi told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s also the little things. It’s his laugh. It’s the sound of his voice. I feel like he’s with me every day. We had a great ride and there’s so much to be grateful for.”

Niemi also explained why he didn’t sign on for a sequel before his 2007 death from pancreatic cancer.

“He would not do it again unless it was absolutely perfect,” she said. “Patrick had high standards, and he wasn’t gonna do it just for the money.”

Gray has previously talked about what a sequel could look like and how it could approach Swayze’s passing. “All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who’s passed — you never try to repeat anything that’s magic like that,” Grey said to People. “You just go for something different.”

Dirty Dancing’s Return: A Slow Dance

Four months ago, Lionsgate finally confirmed a Dirty Dancing sequel during the film studio’s presentation at CinemaCon. Lionsgate also announced that Grey – who played Frances “Baby” Houseman  – will star in a sequel to the film.

Dirty Dancing earned $64 million from just a $6 million budget and won an Oscar for Best Original Song for (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

The original film inspired several spinoffs. They included a brief TV series in 1988 and a 2004 prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, which starred Swayze. And don’t forget the ABC-produced TV movie featuring Abigail Breslin and Nicole Scherzinger in 2017.

None of the spinoffs remotely approached the success of the original.

Two months ago, Lionsgate finally announced a release date for the sequel, simply named Dirty Dancing 2. Grey and company will be back in theaters Feb. 9, 2024.

Then, earlier this month, the iconic romcom returned to AMC theaters earlier this month for a two-day showcasing the film for its 35th anniversary. The anniversary showing included a new Dirty Dancing tribute with fresh celebrity interviews.

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