Suzanne Somers dies at 76: 'One of our brightest and most beautiful stars'

Suzanne Somers, a longtime Palm Springs resident best known for her roles in "Three's Company" and "She's the Sheriff," has died at age 76 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Somers' longtime publicist R. Couri Hay shared a statement on behalf of the actress' family with the news Sunday.

"Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Oct. 15th," the statement obtained by People and The Hollywood Reporter read. "She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years. Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family. 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."

Somers previously battled breast cancer in the early 2000s, and she received a lumpectomy as part of her treatment for the disease.

"Palm Springs has lost one of our brightest and most beautiful stars," former Palm Springs Mayor Rob Moon said on Sunday. "I will miss her greatly." 

He also remarked on her vibrant presence.

"Suzanne was a uniquely beautiful person with a big heart whose smile and personality filled a room," he said.  "Not only was she a stunningly beautiful and classy lady, she was incredibly smart and great fun to be with."

The actress, who would have turned 77 on Monday, spoke to People magazine ahead of her birthday 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.

According to Hay, per People, a private family burial for Somers will take place this week and a memorial will be held in November.

Actress, health 'guru' and entrepreneur

Born Suzanne Marie Mahoney in San Bruno, California, Somers early life was troubled. Her father was an abusive alcoholic, and she was a divorced mother by the age of 20. She broke into film in 1973 with a cameo in "American Graffiti," which led to appearances on "The Tonight Show." Then she landed her most well-known role on the sit-com "Three's Company" as Chrissy Snow. But several seasons later, she was written off the popular show after asking to be paid equal to her male colleague.

Later in life she would become an author of health books that often were counter to conventional medicine. Thirteen of her 25 books would become New York Times best-sellers. She would also become an entrepreneur, with products including cosmetics, the Thighmaster, and a LifeWave chip to protect people from the electro-magnetic radiation emitted by iPhones.

She had a short-lived stage show in Las Vegas, "Suzanne Sizzles" that closed in 2015 after a two-month run. She also had a decade-long run in Las Vegas in the 1980s. Also in 2015, she was featured on "Dancing with the Stars" Season 20.

Longtime Palm Springs residents

Somers and Hamel were fixtures on the Palm Springs social scene for many years, and the late actress had performed at the McCallum Theatre.

"She and Alan, her beloved husband and life partner, have been true Palm Springs stars for decades," Moon said.  "An evening at their unique Ridge Road compound, reachable only by a funky funicular, always started with a drink, or two, from her beloved "Big Al's Bar", tended of course by Alan."

Somers and Hamel in 2019 announced plans to move from their iconic Palm Springs home, which has been an elite social center since Somers starred in the TV sitcom, "Three's Company," some 40 years ago.

The couple bought a hillside home in January near Bob Hope's old house in the Southridge neighborhood for $2.35 million. It's located just across a plain from the multi-level home in the Mesa neighborhood where Somers and Hamel entertained celebrities from Barry Manilow to Kathy Griffin, politicians including U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell and international cutting-edge doctors who contributed to Somers' best-selling books on alternative medicine.

Somers, who was once named Entertainer of the Year in Las Vegas, often sang with her band in the rock amphitheater adjacent to the canyons that were part of their natural back "yard."

Somers said at the time it was important to her and Hamel to stay in Palm Springs, partly for the opportunity to perhaps one day drive down Indian Canyon Drive to do her Las Vegas-styled show at the Plaza Theatre if plans to renovate the historic venue move forward.

Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner said Somers was a much-loved member of the Palm Springs community for more than 40 years. She supported the Palm Springs police and fire departments and served as the 2013 Celebrity Grand Marshal of the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, according to Garner.

“A bright star in our city has left us, but we are forever thankful to Suzanne for always supporting Palm Springs and sharing her love for our uniquely special city with the world," she said. "She was truly a part of the magic that makes Palm Springs like no place else and we will never forget her. On behalf of our residents, we send our deepest condolences to Suzanne’s husband Alan and her family.”

Jamie Kabler, founder of the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival, and Helene Galen, chair of the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, often shared meals with Somers and her husband. Kabler said the late actress was supportive of Eisenhower Health, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Rancho Mirage Writers Festival, the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center and University of Southern California events in the desert.

He said he'd miss her laugh and sense of humor most. They were friends for around 25 years.

"She was a really well-rounded, amazing person and a great light in our community has gone out," Kabler said.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press. Previous reporting by Bruce Fessier and Amy DiPierro is included in this story.

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