Suzanne Somers
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Suzanne Somers, the Emmy nominee and star of hit shows like Three’s Company and She’s the Sheriff, has died. She was 76.
Somers’ longtime publicist R. Couri Hay released a statement on Sunday on behalf of the actress’ family with the news that she passed away peacefully from breast cancer on October 15 at her home in Palm Springs, California, surrounded by her family.
“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,” the statement said. “Her family was gathered on October 16 to celebrate her 77th birthday. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life and would like to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
In addition to Three’s Company and She’s the Sheriff, the actress was also known for her roles in Step By Step and Serial Mom.
Born on October 16, 1946, in San Bruno, California, Suzanne Marie Mahoney was the third of four children in an Irish American Catholic family headed by Frank and Marion Mahoney. Her father was a laborer and her mother was a medical secretary. When the actress was 6 years old, her father became an alcoholic and often insulted her.
Somers began her acting career in the late 1960s and early 1970s when she took small, uncredited roles in Bullitt, Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting and Fools. Her first known role was as “Blonde in T-Bird” in 1973’s American Graffiti.
She landed a recurring role in Starsky and Hutch, where she played three different characters. After a few more years with individual roles in TV shows such as “Lotsa Luck!”, “The Rockford Files” and “One Day at a Time,” Somers made her breakthrough with the role of Chrissy Snow in “Three’s Company.”
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