Advanced search

Stephanie Niznik was an American actress from Bangor, Maine. Her home city is the third-most populous city in Maine, and former center for the lumber and shipbuilding industries. She was born in 1967.

Niznik received a Master of Fine Arts from the Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina. She made her film debut, at the age of 27, in the BDSM-themed comedy-thriller, Exit to Eden (1994). The film depicted a professional photographer's vacation on a private resort, owned by a dominatrix. The protagonist is unaware that two of his fellow guests at the resort are professional thieves, who are seeking to retrieve an incriminating photo from him.

Niznik's first major role was that of Agent Judith Phillips in the action television series, Vanishing Son (1995). The series was a sequel to four television films, which featured the character of martial artist Jian-Wa Chang (played by Russell Wong). In the television series, Jian-Wa has been framed for the murders of two CIA operatives, and is on the run from the law. Judith is secretly working with him to clear his name. The series lasted 1 season, and a total of 13 episodes.

In 1996, Niznik appeared in the comedy film "Dear God", which depicted a reformed con-man accidentally inspiring a charity movement. In 1997, she appeared in the abortion-themed drama, "The Twilight of the Golds". The film was based on the 1993 theatrical play of the same name by Jonathan Tolins, but featured a completely different resolution to the main story.

In 1998, Niznik played the character of Kell Perim in the science fiction film, Star Trek: Insurrection (1998). Kell was depicted as a female Trill alien, serving as an ensign aboard the spaceship USS Enterprise-E. Kell was depicted as the flight controller ("conn officer", pilot) of the Enterprise during a mission led by William Thomas "Will" Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes). The film earned about 118 million dollars at the worldwide box office, the highest-grossing film in Niznik's career.

Also in 1998, Niznik gained a recurring role in the long-running crime drama series "Diagnosis: Murder" (1993-2001). Niznik was cast as the bomber Caitlin Sweeney, a recurring villain in the fifth and sixth seasons of the series.

In 1999, Niznik had a small-part in the comedy-drama film "Anywhere but Here", an adaptation of the 1986 novel by Mona Simpson (1957-). In 2001, Niznin was cast as Alexandra, the female lead in the horror film "Spiders II: Breeding Ground". Also in 2001 she played the lead female role in Sci-Fi TV Movie, Epoch as Dr. KC Czaban.

In 2002, Niznik briefly returned to the "Star Trek" franchise. She played the role of the telepathic shape-shifter "Wraith" in an episode of the television series "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2001-2005). In the episode "Rogue Planet", Wraith allies herself with the crew of spaceship Enterprise (NX-01) against a hunting group of Eska aliens.

From 2002 to 2006, Niznik was part of the main cast in the drama series "Everwood" (2002-2006). She played the character of divorced mother Nina Feeney. The series lasted 4 seasons, and a total of 89 episodes. It reportedly still had relatively high viewership ratings at the time of its cancellation, with over 4 million viewers for the series finale.

From 2007 to 2008, Niznik was part of the main cast in the drama series "Life Is Wild" (2007-2008), where she played the character Jo Weller-Clarke. The series depicted life in a game reserve in South Africa. The series was an adaptation of the successful British series "Wild at Heart" (2006-2012), but failed to find an audience and was canceled after a single season.

In 2008 and 2009, Niznik was reduced to appearing in guest star roles in then-popular television series, such as "CSI: Miami", "Eli Stone", "NCIS", and "Lost". Her final film role was in the mystery film "The Twenty" (2009), depicting an alcoholic's obsession with a message written on a 20-dollar-bill by a person unknown to him. Niznik retired from acting in 2009, at the age of 42.

Over the last decade of her life, Niznik was a volunteer worker in a number of charitable organizations. She was reportedly trying to help "the hungry, children, and animal rescues". In 2019, Niznik died in Encino, California at the age of 52. Her death was reported to the press by her family, though they declined to report the cause of death. Niznik was single at the time of death, and was sharing a home with her pet dogs Nucleus and Jake.

Nuiznik's surviving relatives in 2019 included her mother, her stepfather, her brother, her sister-in-law, a niece, an unspecified number of nephews, and her aunt and uncle.

Spiro Malas was born on 28 January 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was an actor, known for Two Lovers (2008), NET Opera Theater (1967) and Great Performances at the Met (1977). He was married to Marlena Kleinman (Malas). He died on 23 June 2019 in New York, New York, USA.

William F. Brown was born on 16 April 1928 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He was a writer, known for The Wiz (1978), Love, American Style (1969) and NET Playhouse (1964). He was married to Tina Tippit. He died on 23 June 2019 in Westport Connecticut, USA.

Andrey Kharitonov was born on 25 July 1959 in Kiev, USSR. He was an actor and director, known for Zazda strasti (1991), The Invisible Man (1985) and Romanovy: Ventsenosnaya semya (2000). He was married to Olga Smiryagina. He died on 23 June 2019 in Moscow, Russia.

Keith Crary was born on 2 July 1950 in the USA. Keith is known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Leeza (1994) and Wild Texas Wind (1991). Keith died on 23 June 2019 in Studio City, California, USA.

Don Colo was born on 5 January 1925 in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 23 June 2019 in California, USA.

David Bartholomew was born on 24 December 1918 in Edgard, Louisiana, USA. He is known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Gangster Squad (2013) and Road House (1989). He was married to Pearl and Rhea Douse. He died on 23 June 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Aleksandra Dorokhina was born on 17 April 1941 in Molodovsk, Sretensky Raion, Chita Oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Kin-dza-dza! (1986), Black Lightning (2009) and Twelve Chairs (1977). She died on 23 June 2019 in Moscow, Russia.

Bozena Brodská was born on 27 July 1922 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was married to Vlastimil Brodský and Cibor Maran. She died on 23 June 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jack Rudolph was born on 21 March 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was married to Marsha Lou Harris. He died on 23 June 2019 in Valdosta, Georgia, USA.

Menn Bodson was born on 15 November 1943 in Luxembourg. He was a director and cinematographer, known for De falschen hond (1989), E Fall fir sech (1984) and Déi zwéi vum Bierg (1985). He died on 23 June 2019 in Luxembourg.