Patrick Swayze's wife forced to deny claims she abused her dying husband

The late Patrick Swayze's wife Lisa Niemi has denied shocking claims that she physically abused her husband throughout their 34-year marriage.

According to a Radar Online source, Lisa, 60, would neglect and beat the Dirty Dancing star, even throughout his battle with pancreatic cancer.

But Lisa was quick to deny the damning accusations. "It is categorically untrue," her spokesperson said. "It is that simple."

The story, published by Radar Online, was put forward by a so-called long-time friend of the pair.

"She would beat on him and he would beat on the walls and furniture," the source told the website. "They fought, and I covered up a lot of that . They destroyed hotel rooms, cars, their house…It was abusive.

"As he got sick, he was defenceless. She wouldn't hit him with stuff. She would claw at his arms and neck. She would punch and slap him."

The unnamed source also claimed that Lisa would control her husband's life, telling him which friends he could see and what roles to take.

"She wouldn't even let him go outside the ranch," the source claimed. "She pretty much kept him prisoner."

Patrick, who met his future wife when he was 18 years old and she was 14, was 57 when he died of cancer in September 2009.

Lisa married jeweller Albert DePrisco five years after her husband's death.

Related video: Patrick Swayze and his co-star Jennifer Grey star in a scene from 1987's Dirty Dancing...