Suzanne Somers was an actress best known for her starring role as Chrissy Snow on the 1970s and ‘80s sitcom “Three’s Company.”
- Died: October 15, 2023 (Who else died on October 15?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Palm Springs, California, of breast cancer at the age of 76.
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Suzanne Somers’ legacy
Somers helped make “Three’s Company” one of the biggest TV hits of the ‘70s as she played the bubbly blonde Chrissy. Along with her roommate Janet, played by Joyce DeWitt, she welcomed a new male roommate, Jack, played by John Ritter (1948–2003), with the three pretending Jack was gay to appease their landlords. Two of the show’s hallmarks were Ritter’s physical comedy, leading to slapstick hijinks, and Somers’ skillful portrayal of a clueless blonde – one that she later lamented made people think, incorrectly, that she truly wasn’t very smart.
Somers was fired from “Three’s Company” in the show’s fifth season when she demanded a large pay raise so her compensation would match Ritter’s. The network refused, and Chrissy was replaced by another blonde roommate. It wasn’t the end of Somers’ TV career, though. She went on to star in the miniseries “Hollywood Wives” before landing her own sitcom, “She’s the Sheriff,” in 1987. The widely panned show featured Somers as a woman who is appointed sheriff after her husband, who had held the office, dies. “She’s the Sheriff” was cancelled after two seasons, leaving Somers open to take a starring role on “Step by Step,” a blended-family sitcom that was a ‘90s family favorite and lasted seven seasons.
Though best known as a sitcom star, Somers also had a few movie roles, beginning with 1973’s “American Graffiti.” She played a character without a name, the mysterious blonde woman who captivated Richard Dreyfuss’ character as she drove past him in a white Thunderbird. Somers also appeared in such movies as “Nothing Personal” and “Serial Mom.”
In the ‘90s, Somers became well-known as the spokeswoman for the Thighmaster, cheerfully touting its exercise benefits in a series of commercials. She hosted several TV talk shows over the years, including “Suzanne Somers Breaking Through” and “The Suzanne Show.” In 2015, Somers competed on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Somers on her breakout role
“Was it planned? No. Was the universe guiding me? I think so. With the incredible start I received on ‘Three’s Company,’ I learned that, man, I’m talented. I didn’t realize it.” — from a 2019 interview for Closer Weekly
Tributes to Suzanne Somers
Full obituary: The New York Times
