Lisa Niemi sat down with The Times Of London to talk about the life of her husband, Patrick Swayze and the book they wrote together about their 34 years of marriage. I would have thought she would pick a different forum, but she does discuss a great deal including the fact that although she loved Patrick there was also no one she feared more when he had been drinking. "For me the worst thing about him was the drinking. He had a different personality when he drank that much. He was the nicest man on the planet unless he'd had a drink. People or animals could have got hurt when he was like that. It's not good to be around anyone like that."
She said that at one point in 2006, she escaped from him during the middle of the night. he had been drinking and was terrifying so when he passed out she escaped. She was asked why she didn't leave while he was awake and she said that if she had tried he would have shot out the tires with a gun. She said that in 2006 when he was in London performing in a musical that he was at his rock bottom. He tried rehab and even a psychic but wouldn't quit drinking. He finally stopped only after Lisa left him.
She does say some great things about him, and if you are a fan, you will like what she has to say. I do like how she is honest about their life and their marriage and the issues they faced.
I don't understand - so she left him? I thought they were still together when he died.
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ReplyDeleteShe said that in 2006 when he was in London performing in a musical that he was at his rock bottom. He tried rehab and even a psychic but wouldn't quit drinking. He finally stopped only after Lisa left him.
ReplyDeleteRocket - Most likely she went back to him after she saw he had truly quit.
Rocket - It says her leaving is what finally got him to quit. Once he stopped drinking it's only logical that she would feel safe again and return since alcohol was the problem that caused him to become violent.
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ReplyDeleteJohn said it all
ReplyDeleteI'm torn on commenting on this. On one hand, it's always good for someone to release personal trauma or pain, so it's healthy for her to talk through the past. On the other, it always seems a bit disloyal to me when someone has passed to dredge up the past and air dirty laundry. On another third hand (if I had one), I think her words might reach another woman who is suffering with an addicted partner and it might give them the courage to take back their life. (I also think Patrick would approve of this). To be honest I don't know that much about them, so maybe this is just how they were - very open.
ReplyDeleteCelebrity lives are becoming such an obsession, it seems that everyone is troubled and everyone wants a book or a reality show to vent their troubles. The lines between entertainment and 'news' is getting way too blurry. Is it just me or does it seem like human misery is truly becoming the trend in reporting? It used to be light hearted, with fashion and who was dating who but as the media gets more ballsy, sources are getting closer to the underbelly and a lot of it is truly disturbing.
Maybe I'm just having a bad day...
Jess - I always do this. I always edit on the posts that someone comments right after me... lol
ReplyDeletei remember when he's dead,i asked why he hadn't a greater career,someone said he always had a big trouble with alcohol and he wasn't reliable on a set.
ReplyDeleteI think she's honest:she loved him even if he wasn't a perfect man or had troubles
Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks guys :)
ReplyDeleteJohn, very well said.
ReplyDelete@john lol
ReplyDeleteI know someone who met him during one of his drinking binges, and she said he was terrifying. It's a shame he was such a slave to the alcohol.
ReplyDeletehe always seemed like a pretty straightforward guy to me. i don't think he'd be upset she shared this information. it might help someone. marriage is complicated---it's never perfect no matter how it looks from the outside.
ReplyDeleteit's her life, it was her marriage, and i think her honesty is rather refreshing.
right on, John I totally agree on all three hands :)
ReplyDeleteMy dad is one of the greatest, kindest people I have ever known. But back when I was a kid, my dad was an awful drunk and it took my mother packing her bags to make him quit. He never hit her or us, just got angry and aggressive.
ReplyDeleteEveryone in my mothers life told her to leave and never come back, but my sober father was a great man and she was torn. Over 15 years sober and his old behaviour is such a moot point.
I understand Lisa sharing. I also think it's perfect that she isn't glossing over the harshness of their reality in the after effect of death. I think I respect her even more.
I think that was a very honest and touching interview. I applaud her for being honest about his alcoholism. We put celebrities, especially dead ones, on a pedestal way too often. She still loves and misses him, and certainly had no illusions about him. Thank you for posting that, EL.
ReplyDeleteThe only part about this that I didn't already know was that she actually left him at one point. I remember when he crashed his plane there were reports about his drinking being absolutely out of control. But he always seemed so open about all his demons (his drinking was a major point in the A&E Biography) that I think he would be okay with her going public with this - and hopefully it's helping her heal to get it out in the open.
ReplyDeleteDancingInTheWind: I praise Lisa for coming out in the open about Patrick's drinking binges cause I can relate to his alcohol abuse because I'm just like him and I'm married for 11 years next January 2014 . I have been following Patrick Swayze for along time and I know what he has been going through with his alcohol addiction and smoking I'm dealing with the same thing as well and it's not easy like people think. You cannot just up and quit just like that . Poof like magic cause it's not. It takes time and the person has to admit they have a problem for them to get help and they want to have to get the help or it will not work. Cause you cannot make them they have to want it for it to work. Patrick is a good and wonderful man and person IT was alcohol addiction that made him violent ONLY when he drank and got drunk! My heart goes out to you Lisa Niemi Swayze and I pray for you and Patrick 's Family things in life will get better May God Bless You And Be With You All Rest Of Your Days! Sorry I had to wipe my tears from my eyes cause I'm crying.
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