Suzanne Somers, the beloved actress known for her role in the popular sitcom “Three’s Company” and as a fitness icon, has passed away at the age of 76, as confirmed by her longtime publicist R. Couri Hay. Somers died peacefully at her home in the early hours of October 15th, after a long battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer, which she had been fighting for over 23 years.
Somers was surrounded by her family, including her husband Alan, her son Bruce, and other immediate family members. The family had planned to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th, but instead, they will be celebrating her extraordinary life and expressing their gratitude to her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.
In July, Somers had publicly announced a recurrence of her breast cancer. She had been open about her health struggles, sharing on Instagram that she had been battling the disease since her first diagnosis in 2001. Despite the challenges, she remained resilient, stating that she knew how to put on her battle gear and fight.
Somers’ career was multifaceted and spanned several decades. She was most recognized for her role as Chrissy Snow on the hit ABC sitcom “Three’s Company” that aired in the late ’70s and early ‘80s. However, her career extended beyond acting. She authored multiple best-selling books, hosted her own talk show, and became a wellness entrepreneur, largely due to her successful partnership with ThighMaster, which established her as a fitness icon.
Somers’ acting career began in the early 1960s with a series of uncredited film roles. Her first on-screen credit came in 1973 in George Lucas’s Oscar-nominated film “American Graffiti.” Throughout the early ’70s, she appeared in various TV shows before landing her breakout role in “Three’s Company.” The sitcom was a huge success and catapulted Somers into stardom.
Somers’ time on “Three’s Company” ended in 1981 after she asked producers for a pay raise to match her co-star John Ritter’s salary. Despite the setback, she continued to reinvent herself and went on to become a popular entertainer in Las Vegas. In 1987, she was named Las Vegas Female Entertainer of the Year alongside Frank Sinatra.
In addition to her acting career, Somers was a prominent figure in the wellness space. She starred in the infomercial for the at-home workout device, the ThighMaster, and authored more than two dozen wellness books, many of which became New York Times best sellers. She also partnered on several natural beauty products.
Somers was married for five decades and took great pride in her family. She often spoke and wrote about aging without fear, stating that she loved aging because she had found a new way to age.