October 15, 2023
Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.
Somers’ longtime publicist R. Couri Hay on the passing of Somers.
Somers repeatedly battled cancer throughout her life – from her early 20s through her later years.
She also advocated early for equal pay – arguing to meet the pay of her male co-star in one of the most popular sitcoms in the country in the 1970s “Three’s A Company.” Instead of opting for a raise, ABC fired her: “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 Times that year. “I did it so well that everyone thought I really was a dumb blonde.”
Some interesting facts: Somers wrote 27 books; 14 best sellers. She created one of the most successful infomercial products of all-time: The ThighMaster. She dropped out of college after becoming pregnant with her son, Bruce Somers, and turned to modeling on a game show where she met her husband of 40+ years, Alan Hamel. Here’s his love letter to Suzanne, given to her a day before she passed away.
by Jenna Lee,
