Suzanne Somers obit

Suzanne Somers dies at 76: Barry Manilow, Viola Davis, Khloe Kardashian mourn 'Step by Step' actress

 

She was not on the list.

The late Suzanne Somers, who played the bubbly blonde Chrissy Snow on the TV sitcom "Three's Company," was loved by many. Tributes kept pouring in on social media following her death on Sunday.

The actress, best-selling author and entrepreneur died early morning Sunday surrounded by her family, Somers' longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay, said in a statement announcing her death. She was 76.

News of her passing came one day before her 77th birthday on Oct. 16th. Her family was set to gather and celebrate her birthday and now will continue to honor her legacy. "They will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly," her publicist said.

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow paid tribute to his longtime friend Somers in a statement to People magazine on Sunday.

"Suzanne and I were friends for decades. She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever," the 80-year-old told the outlet. "We shared triumphs and heartaches. Her fame in so many fields overshadowed her real talent as one of our greatest comedic actors, a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one of the world’s best cooks. I will miss her dearly and hope that she is now out of pain and at peace."

Suzanne Somers, best known for her roles in TV's "Three's Company" and "She's the Sheriff," has died at 76.

Somers' longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay, shared a statement on behalf of the actress' family with the news Sunday. The actress, who "survived an aggressive form" of breast cancer for over 23 years, "passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours" on Sunday," the statement read.

"Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family," the statement continued. "Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on Oct. 16th. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly."

The actress − born Suzanne Marie Mahoney − would have turned 77 on Monday. Ahead of her birthday, and seemingly in good spirits, she spoke to People magazine about how she planned to celebrate.

Somers told the outlet in an interview published Sunday before news of her death was announced that she planned to be with her "nearest and dearest," including her "beloved husband Alan (Hamel), our three children, Leslie, Stephen, and Bruce, (his wife) Caroline, plus our six wonderful grandchildren."

"I heard Caroline is making her famous short rib tacos and I have asked for copious amounts of cake," Somers said. "I really love cake."

Somers revealed in July that her breast cancer had returned. "I have been living with cancer since my 20s. And every time (it) pops up, I continue to bat it back," Somers told "Entertainment Tonight" at the time. "I do my best not to let this insidious disease control me.

"Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded 'It's back,' you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war. This is familiar battleground for me, and I’m very tough."

Somers also spoke about the "big upside" of her disease: that it had strengthened her bond with her husband over the years. "We have not spent one day apart in over 42 years," she said.

The actress was first diagnosed in 2000, and had previously battled skin cancer. Somers faced some backlash for her reliance on what she's described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to combat the cancers. She argued against the use of chemotherapy, in books and on platforms like "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which drew criticism from the American Cancer Society.

In the interview published Sunday, Hamel told People magazine that he has been in awe of Somers' strength after the diagnosis that revealed her second bout of breast cancer.

"Suzanne and I just returned home from the Midwest where Suzanne had six weeks of intensive physical therapy," said Hamel, 87. "Even after our five decades together, I still marvel at Suzanne's amazing determination and commitment."

John Ritter, Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt in "Three's Company."

Somers was born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, to a gardener father and a medical secretary mother. Her childhood, she'd later say, was tumultuous. Her father was an alcoholic, and abusive toward her. She married young, at 19, to Bruce Somers, after becoming pregnant with her son Bruce. The couple divorced three years later and she began modeling for "The Anniversary Game" to support herself. It was during this time that she met Hamel, whom she married in 1977.

Somers began landing small acting roles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, earning her first credit in the Steve McQueen film "Bullitt." She appeared as the "Blonde in the white Thunderbird" in "American Graffiti," the 1973 coming-of-age drama film directed by George Lucas, as well as brief roles in the first episode of "The Love Boat" and a 1976 episode of "One Day at a Time."

Of her role in "American Graffiti," Somers said it "changed her life forever." Somers would later stage a one-woman Broadway show entitled "The Blonde in the Thunderbird," about her life, which drew largely scathing reviews.

While she appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including "The Rockford Files," "Magnum Force" and "The Six Million Dollar Man," her most famous part didn't come until she landed the role of Chrissy Snow on the ABC sitcom "Three's Company."

Creating the role of the ditzy blonde "was actually intellectual," Somers told CBS News in 2020. "How do I make her likable and loveable ... dumb blondes are annoying. I gave her a moral code. I imagined it was the childhood I would’ve liked to have had," she said.

The show aired from 1977 to 1984, but in 1981 − after asking for a raise per episode appearance − Somers was phased out and soon fired. Somers didn't let that bump in her acting career stop her from pursuing new avenues, including a Las Vegas act, hosting a talk show and becoming an entrepreneur.

In the 1990s, she also became the spokesperson for the "ThighMaster," recording many infomercials during that time. That decade also saw her return to network television in the 1990s, most famously on "Step by Step," which aired on ABC's youth-targeted TGIF lineup. The network also aired a biopic of her life, starring her, called "Keeping Secrets."

A woman of many talents, Somers was also a prolific author, writing books on aging, menopause, beauty, wellness, sex and cancer.

According to Hay, a private family burial for Somers will take place this week and a memorial will be held in November, People reported.

Suzanne Marie Mahoney was born in San Bruno, California on October 16, 1946, as the third of four children in a working-class Irish-American Catholic family. Her mother, Marion Elizabeth (née Turner), was a medical secretary, and her father, Francis Mahoney, was a laborer and gardener. Her father was an alcoholic and was abusive; Somers often was worried that she would be killed by her father. Somers was a bedwetter until age 12, which led to additional abuse from her father.

Somers first attended Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, but had trouble with her schoolwork due to dyslexia and her father's all-night rages and she would often fall asleep in class. At school, she performed in the lead role of H.M.S. Pinafore. She was expelled at age 14 for writing sexually suggestive notes to a boy, which were never sent.

Actress

Heather Graham in Say It Isn't So (2001)

Say It Isn't So

5.0

Gilbert's Mom

Suzanne Somers (uncredited)

2001

 

Suzanne Somers and Timothy Busfield in The Darklings (1999)

The Darklings

5.4

TV Movie

Clara Hagen

Emily Shepherd

1999

 

Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)

Rusty: A Dog's Tale

4.9

Malley the Dog (voice)

1998

 

Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Christine Lakin, Josh Byrne, Brandon Call, Christopher Castile, Staci Keanan, Sasha Mitchell, and Angela Watson in Step by Step (1991)

Step by Step

6.5

TV Series

Carol Foster Lambert

1991–1998

160 episodes

 

Suzanne Somers, Selma Blair, and Chad Christ in No Laughing Matter (1998)

No Laughing Matter

5.9

TV Movie

Emma Poleski

1998

 

Love-Struck (1997)

Love-Struck

5.0

TV Movie

Venus

1997

 

Devil's Food (1996)

Devil's Food

5.1

TV Movie

Sally McCormick

1996

 

Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996)

The Nutty Professor

5.7

Thighmaster Lady on TV (uncredited)

1996

 

Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)

The Simpsons

8.7

TV Series

Suzanne Somers (voice)

1996

1 episode

 

Téa Leoni in The Naked Truth (1995)

The Naked Truth

6.8

TV Series

Suzanne Somers

1995

1 episode

 

ABC TGIF (1989)

ABC TGIF

8.4

TV Series

Carol Foster Lambert

1991–1995

4 episodes

 

ABC Sneak Peek with Step by Step

7.5

TV Movie

Carol Foster Lambert

1994

 

Seduced by Evil (1994)

Seduced by Evil

3.3

TV Movie

Leigh Lindsay

1994

 

Matthew Lillard, Kathleen Turner, Ricki Lake, and Sam Waterston in Serial Mom (1994)

Serial Mom

6.8

Suzanne Somers

1994

 

Mary-Kate Olsen, John Stamos, Andrea Barber, Candace Cameron Bure, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin, Bob Saget, Jodie Sweetin, Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit, Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit, and Scott Weinger in Full House (1987)

Full House

6.8

TV Series

Suzanne Somers

1994

1 episode

 

The Larry Sanders Show (1992)

The Larry Sanders Show

8.5

TV Series

Suzanne Somers

1993

1 episode

 

Sela Ward, Swoosie Kurtz, Patricia Kalember, and Sheila Kelley in Sisters (1991)

Sisters

7.6

TV Series

Suzanne Somers (uncredited)

1993

1 episode

 

Exclusive (1992)

Exclusive

4.7

TV Movie

Marcy Singer

1992

 

Suzanne Somers and John Scott Clough in Keeping Secrets (1991)

Keeping Secrets

5.9

TV Movie

Suzanne Somers

1991

 

Heather Locklear, Deborah Adair, Suzanne Somers, and Larry Wilcox in Rich Men, Single Women (1990)

Rich Men, Single Women

5.9

TV Movie

Paige

1990

 

She's the Sheriff (1987)

She's the Sheriff

4.1

TV Series

Sheriff Hildy Granger

1987–1989

44 episodes

 

Totally Minnie (1988)

Totally Minnie

7.0

TV Movie

Director

1988

 

Goodbye Charlie

4.7

TV Movie

Charlie

Charlene

1985

 

Hollywood Wives (1985)

Hollywood Wives

6.3

TV Mini Series

Gina Germaine

1985

3 episodes

 

John Ritter, Suzanne Somers, and Joyce DeWitt in Three's Company (1976)

Three's Company

7.5

TV Series

Chrissy Snow

1977–1981

100 episodes

 

Donald Sutherland and Suzanne Somers in Nothing Personal (1980)

Nothing Personal

4.5

Abigail Adams

1980

 

Yesterday's Hero (1979)

Yesterday's Hero

5.0

Cloudy

1979

 

Norman Fell and Audra Lindley in The Ropers (1979)

The Ropers

5.9

TV Series

Chrissy Snow

1979

1 episode

 

Billy

5.7

TV Series

Suzanne Somers

1979

1 episode

 

Zuma Beach (1978)

Zuma Beach

5.2

TV Movie

Bonnie Katt

1978

 

Happily Ever After

6.8

TV Movie

Mattie

1978

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.1

TV Series

Jenny Fraser

1977

1 episode

 

Suzanne Somers in Ants! (1977)

Ants!

5.0

TV Movie

Gloria

1977

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

Jane Hutton

Linda Offenbecker

Sally Ann Sloane

1975–1977

3 episodes

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.2

TV Series

Lorraine Hoffman

1977

1 episode

 

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

4.5

Party Girl

1977

 

Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington Jr., and Mackenzie Phillips in One Day at a Time (1975)

One Day at a Time

6.6

TV Series

Sondra

1976

1 episode

 

Sky Heist (1975)

Sky Heist

6.8

TV Movie

Female Reporter

1975

 

The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Ginny Nelson

1974

1 episode

 

Dom DeLuise in Lotsa Luck! (1973)

Lotsa Luck!

6.3

TV Series

Gloria

1974

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force (1973)

Magnum Force

7.2

Pool Girl (uncredited)

1973

 

Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, and Cindy Williams in American Graffiti (1973)

American Graffiti

7.4

Blonde in T-Bird

1973

 

Fools (1970)

Fools

5.2

Woman at Baptism (uncredited)

1970

 

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969)

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting

6.2

Sidewalk Extra (uncredited)

1969

 

Steve McQueen in Bullitt (1968)

Bullitt

7.4

Woman (uncredited)

1968

 

Composer

The Jenny McCarthy Show (1997)

The Jenny McCarthy Show

4.5

TV Series

Composer

1997

22 episodes

 

Producer

Somersize Part 2, Suzanne Somers: Think Great, Look Great

Video

executive producer

1996

 

Somersize Part 1, Suzanne Somers: Eat Great, Lose Weight

Video

executive producer

1996

 

The Suzanne Somers Show (1994)

The Suzanne Somers Show

5.1

TV Series

executive producer

1994

 

Exclusive (1992)

Exclusive

4.7

TV Movie

co-executive producer

1992

 

Suzanne Somers and John Scott Clough in Keeping Secrets (1991)

Keeping Secrets

5.9

TV Movie

executive producer

1991