Suzanne Somers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Suzanne Somers
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Suzanne Somers in 2011
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Suzanne Marie Mahoney
October 16, 1946 San Bruno, California, U.S.
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| Died | October 15, 2023 (aged 76) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1968–2023 |
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Notable work
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Three's Company Step by Step |
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| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Camelia Somers (granddaughter) |
Suzanne Marie Somers (October 16, 1946 – October 15, 2023) was an American actress, author, and businesswoman. She was well-known for her roles on TV shows. She played Chrissy Snow on Three's Company from 1977 to 1981. Later, she starred as Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step from 1991 to 1998.
Suzanne Somers also wrote several books. These included two books about her own life. She also wrote four diet books and a book of poetry. Her book, Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (2006), talked about hormone treatments. Another book, Knockout (2009), discussed different ways to treat cancer.
Contents
Early Life and School
Suzanne Marie Mahoney was born in San Bruno, California. This was on October 16, 1946. She was the third of four children. Her family was Irish-American Catholic and working-class. Her mother, Marion Elizabeth, worked as a medical secretary. Her father, Francis Mahoney, was a laborer and gardener.
Suzanne first went to Mercy High School. She had trouble with schoolwork because of dyslexia. This is a learning difference that affects reading. She often fell asleep in class. At school, she acted in the lead role of H.M.S. Pinafore. She was asked to leave school at age 14.
In 1964, Somers graduated from Capuchino High School. She won an award for her role in the musical Guys and Dolls. She also helped plan her class's senior ball. She then went to Lone Mountain College. She left college in 1965 when she became pregnant. She married her child's father, Bruce Somers, at age 19.
Acting Career
After her divorce in 1968, Suzanne needed to support herself. She worked as a prize model on "The Anniversary Game." This was a game show hosted by Alan Hamel. They started dating and later married in 1977.
Somers began acting in small parts in the late 1960s. She appeared on talk shows to promote her poetry book. She also had small roles in movies. One famous role was the "Blonde in the white Thunderbird" in American Graffiti. This led to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She also appeared in TV shows like The Rockford Files and The Six Million Dollar Man. In 1977, she was a guest on Match Game.
Three's Company Star
Suzanne Somers was chosen for the sitcom Three's Company. This happened after other actresses did not work out. An ABC president suggested her after seeing her on The Tonight Show. Somers played Chrissy Snow, a secretary. Her character was known for being a "blonde stereotype." At first, Somers earned $3,500 per week.
The show was about two single women living with a single man. The man pretended to be gay to follow the landlord's rules. The show was very popular. It even led to a spin-off series called The Ropers.
Later, Somers asked for a pay raise. She wanted $150,000 per episode, like her co-star John Ritter. ABC only offered a small raise. Somers then appeared less in the show. Her role was cut to only 60 seconds per episode. She was later let go from the show. Somers felt she was fired for asking for equal pay.
Life After Three's Company
In the 1980s, Somers became a popular entertainer in Las Vegas. She performed at big hotels like the MGM Grand and the Las Vegas Hilton. She also performed for U.S. military members overseas.
From 1987 to 1989, Somers starred in the sitcom She's the Sheriff. She played a widow who became a sheriff. The show ran for two seasons.
In 1990, Somers returned to network television. She appeared in many guest roles and TV movies. Her roles caught the eye of producers.
Step by Step and Beyond
In September 1991, Somers started a new sitcom. It was called Step By Step. She starred with Patrick Duffy. The show was a big hit on ABC's TGIF lineup.
In the early 1990s, Somers became famous for infomercials. She was the spokeswoman for the Thighmaster. This was a popular piece of exercise equipment.
In 1991, a TV movie about Somers' life aired. It was called Keeping Secrets. It showed her early life and how she became famous. In 1994, she hosted a talk show called Suzanne Somers. It lasted one season.
Step By Step moved to CBS for its final season in 1997. From 1997 to 1999, Somers co-hosted Candid Camera. In the 2000s, she sold household items on the Home Shopping Network.
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In 2005, Somers performed on Broadway theatre. Her one-woman show was called The Blonde in the Thunderbird. It told stories about her life. The show closed quickly after poor reviews.
In 2012, Somers started an online talk show. It was called Suzanne Somers Breaking Through. She reunited with her Three's Company co-star Joyce DeWitt on the show. They had not spoken in 31 years. They talked about their friend John Ritter, who had passed away.
Later in 2012, The Suzanne Show aired on the Lifetime Network. Somers hosted guests and talked about health and fitness.
In 2015, Somers competed on Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Tony Dovolani. They finished in 9th place.
Health and Personal Life
Suzanne Somers married Bruce Somers in 1965. They had a son, Bruce Jr., in November 1965. They divorced in 1968. She later married Alan Hamel in 1977. She had three granddaughters: Camelia, Violet Somers, and Daisy Hamel-Buffa.
In 1971, her son was hit by a car. This led her to seek therapy. Somers and Hamel bought a house in Palm Springs, California in 1977. In 2007, a wildfire destroyed her home in Malibu, California.
Health Challenges
Suzanne Somers faced several health challenges. In her 20s, she had a condition called hyperplasia. In her 30s, she had skin cancer.
In April 2000, Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery to remove the cancer, called a lumpectomy. She also had radiation therapy.
In 2020, Somers fractured her hip. This happened when she jumped out of a private tram at her house.
In July 2023, her cancer returned. Suzanne Somers died at her home in Palm Springs, California. This was on October 15, 2023, just before her 77th birthday.
Awards and Recognition
- On May 2, 2014, Suzanne Somers was honored. She was inducted into the Infomercial Hall of Fame.
Television Work
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- Anniversary Game (1969–70)
- Mantrap (1971–73)
- Lotsa Luck (1974)
- The Rockford Files – The Big Ripoff (aired October 25, 1974)
- Sky Heist (1975)
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1977)
- Starsky & Hutch (1975–79, 3 appearances)
- Match Game (1977/PM) (1977)
- The Love Boat (1977)
- Tattletales (1977)
- Three's Company (1977–81)
- Happily Ever After (1978)
- Zuma Beach (1978)
- Hollywood Wives (1985) (miniseries)
- Goodbye Charlie (1985)
- She's the Sheriff (1987–89)
- Rich Men, Single Women (1990)
- Step by Step (1991–98)
- Keeping Secrets (1991)
- Exclusive (1992) (also co-executive producer)
- The Suzanne Somers Show (1994–95)
- Full House (1994)
- 8-Track Flashback (1995–98)
- Devil's Food (1996)
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (1996) (Host)
- Love-Struck (1997)
- Candid Camera (co-host from 1997 to 2000)
- No Laughing Matter (1998)
- The Darklings (1999)
- Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2009) (guest appearance)
- ShopNBC
- The Suzanne Show (2012) (Host)
- The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (2013) (guest appearance)
- Dancing with the Stars (2015) (contestant)
- Home & Family (2017)
Filmography
- Bullitt (1968) as Woman (uncredited)
- Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969) as Sidewalk Extra (uncredited)
- Fools (1970) as Woman at Baptism (uncredited)
- American Graffiti (1973) as Blonde in T-Bird
- Magnum Force (1973) as Pool Girl (uncredited)
- Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) as Party Girl
- It Happened at Lakewood Manor (1977, TV movie) as Gloria
- Zuma Beach (1978, TV movie) as Bonnie Katt
- Yesterday's Hero (1979) as Cloudy
- Nothing Personal (1980) as Abigail Adams
- Totally Minnie (1988, TV movie) as Director
- Serial Mom (1994) as Herself
- The Nutty Professor (1996) as Thighmaster Lady on TV (uncredited)
- Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998) as Malley the Dog (narrator)
- Say It Isn't So (2001) as Gilbert's Mom / Herself (cameo, uncredited)
See also
In Spanish: Suzanne Somers para niños
- List of food faddists
