Stephanie Niznik was an American actress born in 1967 in Bangor, Maine, a city that was once a center for the lumber and shipbuilding industries. She received a Master of Fine Arts from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Niznik made her film debut at the age of 27 in the BDSM-themed comedy-thriller "Exit to Eden" (1994),which depicted a professional photographer's vacation on a private resort owned by a dominatrix. Her first major role was as Agent Judith Phillips in the action television series "Vanishing Son" (1995),a sequel to four television films featuring martial artist Jian-Wa Chang.
In 1996, Niznik appeared in the comedy film "Dear God", which told the story of a reformed con-man accidentally inspiring a charity movement. She then appeared in the abortion-themed drama "The Twilight of the Golds" (1997),based on the 1993 theatrical play by Jonathan Tolins.
Niznik's most notable role was as Kell Perim, a female Trill alien, in the science fiction film "Star Trek: Insurrection" (1998),which earned about 118 million dollars at the worldwide box office. She also gained a recurring role in the long-running crime drama series "Diagnosis: Murder" (1993-2001) as the bomber Caitlin Sweeney.
In 1999, Niznik had a small part in the comedy-drama film "Anywhere but Here", an adaptation of the 1986 novel by Mona Simpson. She then appeared in the horror film "Spiders II: Breeding Ground" (2001) and the Sci-Fi TV Movie "Epoch" (2001),where she played the lead female role as Dr. KC Czaban.
Niznik briefly returned to the "Star Trek" franchise in 2002, playing the role of the telepathic shape-shifter "Wraith" in an episode of the television series "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2001-2005). From 2002 to 2006, she was part of the main cast in the drama series "Everwood" (2002-2006),playing the character of divorced mother Nina Feeney.
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 and was an adaptation of the successful British series "Wild at Heart" (2006-2012).
In 2008 and 2009, Niznik appeared in guest star roles in 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.
