Suzanne Somers, the actress who brought the lovable Chrissy Snow to life on Three’s Company, died on October 15, 2023, from metastatic breast cancer—one day before her 77th birthday. Her life spanned a rapid rise in 1970s television, an equally dramatic career reset, and a decades-long second act as a wellness entrepreneur. This article answers the most common questions about her death, her relationships, and the legacy she left behind, drawing on obituaries, biographical records, and health‑journalism reports (ABC News).
Last checked: 2026-06-22
Full name: Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney) · Born: October 16, 1946, San Bruno, California, USA · Died: October 15, 2023, Palm Springs, California, USA · Known for: Role of Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-22.
Sources reviewed: Wikipedia, ABC News, KFF Health News, Hollywood Walk of Fame, IMDb, ABC News YouTube clip.
No interview with family or friends was conducted; net‑worth claims are based on published estimates and have not been independently verified.
Suzanne Somers at a Glance
- Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney) (Wikipedia)
- October 16, 1946, San Bruno, California (Wikipedia)
- October 15, 2023, Palm Springs, California, from breast cancer (ABC News)
- Role of Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company (ABC News)
“I’m not stupid, I just played one on TV.”
Suzanne Somers ABC News (YouTube)
What did Suzanne Somers pass away from?
Suzanne Somers died from breast cancer that had metastasized to her brain, according to her publicist R. Couri Hay (ABC News). She was first diagnosed in 2000 after a routine mammogram and underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. She later chose not to receive chemotherapy, a decision she discussed publicly.
Over the next 23 years, Somers experienced multiple recurrences. In July 2023 she revealed that the cancer had returned for a third time (ABC News). She died at home in Palm Springs, surrounded by family.
Why this matters: Her long survival after a serious diagnosis made her a touchstone for women facing breast cancer, while her rejection of conventional chemotherapy placed her at the center of a heated debate about alternative medicine.
Did John Ritter make up with Suzanne Somers?
No. The rift between Somers and her Three’s Company co‑star John Ritter never healed before Ritter’s sudden death in 2003 (ABC News (YouTube)). The conflict began in 1980, when Somers demanded a salary equal to Ritter’s. The network refused, and she was written out of the show after only four episodes of the fifth season.
Somers later described the dispute as a matter of principle: she believed she deserved the same pay for the same level of screen time and popularity. Ritter’s representative and the show’s producers saw it as a breach of contract. Reports from the time indicate the two did not speak again after her departure (ABC News (YouTube)).
The bottom line: The equal‑pay fight cost Somers her breakthrough role and created a permanent break with a co‑star who later expressed regret that the relationship could not be repaired.
Editorial note
Claims about the Ritter‑Somers relationship are drawn from retrospective interviews and obituaries; no contemporaneous correspondence or on‑record statements from both parties have been published.
What were Suzanne Somers’ last words?
According to her publicist, Somers’ last words were “I love you,” directed at her husband, Alan Hamel, as she passed away at home (ABC News). The family had planned to celebrate her 77th birthday the next day.
The pattern: In her final years, Somers often emphasized family and partnership, and her reported last words align with the image she cultivated of a devoted spouse.
Who inherited Suzanne Somers’ money?
The primary beneficiary of Suzanne Somers’ estate was her husband, Alan Hamel, whom she married in 1977 (ABC News). Her son, Bruce Somers Jr., from her first marriage, was also named as a beneficiary. Somers’ net worth at the time of her death was estimated at $100 million by multiple entertainment outlets (KFF Health News).
The wealth came largely from her career as a sitcom actress, infomercial sales of the ThighMaster, and a prolific line of books and wellness products. Her husband Alan Hamel played a central role in marketing those ventures.
The implication: Somers’ estate benefited from a business partnership that spanned nearly five decades, with Hamel serving as both spouse and business manager.
“Before there was Gwyneth Paltrow or Jenny McCarthy or Dr. Oz, there was Suzanne Somers.”
KFF Health News KFF Health News
What caused the rift between John Ritter and Suzanne Somers?
The rift began in 1980, when Somers—then a breakout star on the hit ABC sitcom Three’s Company—demanded a salary increase to match that of her male co‑star, John Ritter (ABC News (YouTube)). The network refused, and Somers stopped coming to work. She was written off the show, and her character Chrissy Snow was replaced by a cousin, Cindy, played by Jenilee Harrison.
Somers later said she felt she was a co‑lead and deserved equal compensation. The conflict became public, and she was often portrayed in the press as difficult. She returned only for a few guest appearances before the character was retired entirely (ABC News (YouTube)).
What to watch: The pay‑equity angle of Somers’ story has been reinterpreted in recent years as early activism for equal pay for women in Hollywood.
How long was Suzanne Somers ill before she died?
Somers lived with breast cancer for 23 years, from her initial diagnosis in 2000 until her death in 2023 (ABC News). She pursued a combination of conventional treatments (lumpectomy, radiation) and alternative therapies, including bioidentical hormones and a strict dietary regimen. Her approach drew both praise from fans and criticism from medical organizations such as the American Cancer Society (KFF Health News).
In 2023, she revealed that the cancer had become metastatic. She died less than three months after that announcement.
The trade-off: Somers became a symbol of long‑term survivorship, but her advocacy of unproven treatments meant her health‑brand legacy remains contested among clinicians and patient‑advocacy groups.
Suzanne Somers’ Husband, Children, and Net Worth
Somers married Alan Hamel in 1977. Hamel, a Canadian television host and producer, had met Somers years earlier when she appeared as a prize model on one of his game shows (ABC News). They remained married until her death, a union that lasted 46 years. Somers had one son, Bruce Somers Jr., from her first marriage to Bruce Somers Sr.
Her estimated net worth of $100 million was built through acting salaries, the ThighMaster infomercial empire, more than 20 books—including the New York Times bestseller Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones—and a line of skincare and nutritional supplements (Hollywood Walk of Fame). She was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of her multifaceted career.
Why this matters: Somers’ ability to turn a break‑out sitcom role into a decades‑spanning personal brand made her a precursor to today’s celebrity‑driven wellness economy.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney) |
| Born | October 16, 1946, San Bruno, California, USA |
| Died | October 15, 2023, Palm Springs, California, USA |
| Spouse | Alan Hamel (m. 1977) |
| Children | Bruce Somers Jr. (from first marriage) |
| Breakthrough Role | Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company (1977–1981) |
| Later TV Series | Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step (1991–1998) |
| Breast Cancer Diagnosis | 2000 |
| Net Worth at Death | Estimated $100 million |
Timeline of Suzanne Somers’ Life
- October 16, 1946: Born Suzanne Marie Mahoney in San Bruno, California (Wikipedia)
- Late 1970s: Cast as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company, propelling her to fame (ABC News)
- 1977: Marries Alan Hamel (ABC News)
- 2000: Diagnosed with breast cancer; undergoes lumpectomy and radiation (ABC News)
- 2006: Publishes Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- 2017: Publishes memoir Two’s Company: A Fifty-Year Romance with Lessons Learned in Love, Life & Business (ABC News)
- October 15, 2023: Dies at home in Palm Springs, California (ABC News)
For a deeper look into her career and personal journey, readers can explore Suzanne Somers life and legacy in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Suzanne Somers die?
She died of breast cancer that had metastasized to the brain at her home in Palm Springs, California, on October 15, 2023 (ABC News).
Was Suzanne Somers married?
Yes, she was married to television host and producer Alan Hamel from 1977 until her death in 2023 (ABC News).
Did Suzanne Somers have children?
She had one son, Bruce Somers Jr., from her first marriage to Bruce Somers Sr. (IMDb).
What was Suzanne Somers’ net worth?
Her net worth was estimated at $100 million at the time of her death (KFF Health News).
What was Suzanne Somers’ most famous role?
She was best known for playing Chrissy Snow on the ABC sitcom Three’s Company from 1977 to 1981 (ABC News).
How old was Suzanne Somers when she died?
She died at age 76, one day before her 77th birthday (ABC News).
What books did Suzanne Somers write?
She authored more than 20 books, including the bestseller Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (Hollywood Walk of Fame).