Suzanne Somers, star of 'Three's Company' and 'Step by Step,' dead at 76

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."

More: Suzanne Somers' death has devastated fans. It's OK to grieve.

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."

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.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Lindsey Behr, The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suzanne Somers dead: 'Three's Company' star dies at 76 from cancer