United States actress Suzanne Somers, most famous for her role as Chrissy Snow in 'Three's Company,' has died at age 76 following a decades-long experience with cancer.
A statement shared with the media revealed that Somers' family was gathered to celebrate the actress' 77th birthday. However, they will instead celebrate her extraordinary life and express gratitude to millions of fans and followers who loved Somers dearly.
Suzanne Somers Dies at 76
On top of being an actress, the late Somers was an author and a fitness guru who touched the lives of many others. She started her acting career in the late 1960s and early 1970s with small TV roles, including 'The Love Boat' and 'One Day at a Time' before getting a role in the 1977 TV series.
Somers starred in the show for five of its eight seasons before getting fired after a dispute regarding her salary. After taking a break from on-screen acting that included a stint as an entertainer in Las Vegas, she returned in the early 1990s and took a lead role in 'Step by Step,' which ran for seven seasons, as per BBC.
The actress' later TV credits included co-hosting 'Candid Camera,' her very own talk show, 'The Suzanne Show,' as well as an appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars.' She also built up a multi-million dollar fitness empire and appeared in commercials for the Thighmaster and Buttmaster exercise equipment.
She also released several self-help books on wellness and weight loss and launched her beauty brand in 2019. Somers was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in her 50s, and she announced on social media in July that, after being in remission, the illness returned.
On Instagram, the actress said she knows how to put on her "battle gear" and called herself a fighter. Somers' publicist said a private family burial would be held next week, and a memorial was already scheduled for November.
Becoming a Household Name
According to People, the publicist, R. Couri Hay, wrote in the statement that Somers passed away peacefully at her home in the early morning of Oct. 15. She noted that the actress had spent 23 years of her life with cancer.
The statement continued to say that Somers was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family at the time of her death. Hay also issued a separate statement saying that the "beautiful house" the actress spent her final moments in was "one of her dreams."
Somers' rise to stardom due to Three's Company was made possible by the TV series becoming a hit, running for nearly ten seasons and generating several spinoff series. It also made the actress a sex symbol and a household name in Hollywood.
Her removal from the show came before the fifth season because it was then that she demanded a raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000, which was equal to what her male co-star John Ritter was reportedly making. ABC News said that after the producers refused, she claimed health issues and did not show up for two episodes.
