Suzanne Somers, Star of Three’s Company and Step by Step, Dead at 76
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Suzanne Somers, best known for her TV work in Three’s Company and Step by Step, died Sunday following a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was 76.
“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Oct. 15,” Somers’ publicist confirmed Sunday. “She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.
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“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 October 16. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
Somers cut her acting teeth in the mid-’70s with guest stints in The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Love Boat and One Day at a Time, before landing her breakout role of Chrissy Snow opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt in the ABC sitcom Three’s Company in 1977.
“My heart goes out to Suzanne’s family,” DeWit said in a statement to People. “They are a very close family — deeply connected and caring one to the other. I can only imagine how difficult this time is for all of them.
“I’m sure Suzanne was greeted by Angels into the loving wisdom waiting for all of us on the other side,” her statement continued, “and I hope that will assist her family’s hearts in healing as they travel through this difficult time.”
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Somers’ exited Three’s Company at the end of Season 5 amid a contentious salary dispute with ABC. She was replaced by Jenilee Harrison at the start of Season 6.
Somers ended up suing ABC for $2 million, claiming that her Three’s Company firing damaged her reputation in show business. The suit was eventually settled out of court.
“I’ve been playing what I think is one of the best dumb blondes that’s ever been done, but I never got any credit,” she told The New York Times in 1980. “I did it so well that everyone thought I really was a dumb blonde.”
In the ’90s, Somers pivoted from acting to health and fitness, becoming the spokesperson for the informercial-driven phenom Thighmaster, before finding success again in TV via ABC’s TGIF staple Step by Step. The blended family sitcom — which ran for seven seasons — found Somers starring opposite Dallas‘ Patrick Duffy.
Additional TV credits for Somers include the syndicated sitcom She’s the Sheriff, CBS’ Candid Camera reboot and Season 20 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars (she finished in ninth place).
This past July, Somers announced that her breast cancer — which was first diagnosed in 2000 — had returned.
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