Suzanne Somers, best known for her role on the television show “Three’s Company” and for fitness and health business ventures, died Sunday at age 76.
“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th,” Somers’s spokesperson, R. Couri Hay, said in a statement.
Who was Suzanne Somers?
Suzanne Somers was an American actress, author, singer, businesswoman, and health spokesperson.
She was cast in the television role of Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company from 1977 to 1981 and as Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step from 1991 to 1998.
Somers later became the author of several books, including two autobiographies, four diet books, and a book of poetry.
Her book, Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (2006), about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and the Wiley protocol, was heavily criticized.
Her book, Knockout (2009), which promoted alternative cancer treatments was criticized by the American Cancer Society.
Suzanne Somers Biography
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 first attended Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, but had trouble with her schoolwork due to her father’s all-night rages and 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.
In 1964, Somers graduated from Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California, where she won the “Best Doll Award” for her role in the senior musical, Guys and Dolls and helped organize her class’s senior ball.
She then attended San Francisco College for Women, a college run by the Catholic Society of the Sacred Heart order, but dropped out in 1965 when she found out she was pregnant.
She married her child’s father, Bruce Somers, days later, at age 19.
Career
Suzanne Somers first started to earn fame in 1969 when she appeared as a prize model on a show called Anniversary Game. The show was hosted by Canadian TV personality Alan Hamel.
One of her first major acting roles was in George Lucas’ breakout film American Graffiti.
Throughout the next period, Suzanne Somers landed roles in shows like The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, and One Day At A Time.
She also has a minor uncredited role in the film Magnum Force. In 1977, Suzanne Somers booked a leading role in Three’s Company.
She portrayed a stereotypical dumb blonde and soon became a sex symbol due to her performances in the show. Three’s Company did incredibly well in terms of ratings.
In 1980, Somers began to demand a much higher wage and was subsequently fired.
After Three’s Company, Suzanne Somers found it challenging to appear in sitcoms due to her controversial exit from the series.
However, she eventually found her way back into the sitcom world with She’s the Sheriff in 1987.
The show ran for two seasons. After appearing in a range of made-for-TV movies, Somers landed another notable sitcom role in Step By Step.
The sitcom started in 1991 and ran for seven seasons, adding considerably to Somers’ star power.
In addition, Suzanne Somers has hosted various talk shows over the years.
She also appeared in Broadway productions and appeared in Dancing with the Stars in 2015, placing ninth.
A major pop culture figure, Suzanne Somers has been referenced heavily in shows such as South Park and Beavis and Butthead.
Suzanne Somers Parents
Her mother, Marion Elizabeth (née Turner), was a medical secretary, and her father, Francis Mahoney, was a laborer and gardener.
Suzanne Somers Siblings
Somers had three siblings, a sister named Maureen Gilmartin and two brothers named Daniel Mahoney and Michael Mahoney .
Suzanne Somers Family
Suzanne Somers was 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.
Somers had three siblings, a sister named Maureen Gilmartin and two brothers named Daniel Mahoney and Michael Mahoney.
She was married to Alan Hamel since 1977 52. She was previously married to Bruce Somers, which ended in divorce in 1968 after three years.
Suzanne Somers has three children named Leslie, Stephen, and Bruce.
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