Suzanne Somers died on October 15, 2023, at her home in Palm Springs, California, after a 23-year battle with breast cancer. She was 76 years old. This article answers the most frequently asked questions about her death, final words, inheritance, and her well-known rift with John Ritter, drawing on verified reporting from People, Entertainment Tonight, and other authoritative sources.
Last checked: 2026-06-22
Full Name: Suzanne Marie Somers ·
Birth: October 16, 1946 ·
Death: October 15, 2023 ·
Known For: Role as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-22.
Sources reviewed: Wikipedia, IMDb, People magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Fox News, AOL/ET archive, social media (Facebook/Instagram), Google related searches.
No primary interviews, no access to private records, and no verification of unsubstantiated rumors.
Key facts about Suzanne Somers
Full name
- Suzanne Marie Somers (Wikipedia)
Birth date
- October 16, 1946 (Wikipedia)
Death date
- October 15, 2023 (Entertainment Tonight)
Known for
- Role as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company (People)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Suzanne Marie Somers |
| Birth | October 16, 1946 |
| Death | October 15, 2023 |
| Known For | Role as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company |
- Years living with breast cancer: 23 years (from diagnosis to death)
- Age at death: 76 years (one day before her 77th birthday)
- Marriage duration: 46 years (to Alan Hamel)
What did Suzanne Somers pass away from?
Somers died from complications of breast cancer, a disease she had fought for more than two decades. Her publicist confirmed that she passed away peacefully at home one day before her 77th birthday. Entertainment Tonight reported that the cause of death was “complications from breast cancer.”
Somers had initially been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 but also battled melanoma in the years that followed. She chose a combination of conventional and alternative treatments throughout her illness.
What were Suzanne Somers’ last words?
Her husband, Alan Hamel, told People that in her final days Somers repeatedly urged him not to dwell on grief. She said, “I want you to live your life. You have a great life. You have a great family. You have great friends. I want you to live your life.”
Hamel also wrote her a final love poem, wrapped with pink peonies, which she read the night before her death. The full text of the poem has not been published, but Entertainment Tonight (YouTube) shared excerpts in an on-air segment.
“What brand of love do I feel for my wife Suzanne? There is no version of the word that is applicable to Suzanne. Unconditional love does not do it. ‘I’ll take a bullet for you’ doesn’t do it.”
— Alan Hamel, in a poem read to Somers the night before her death (via ET on YouTube)
No other official last words have been made public.
Who inherited Suzanne Somers’ money?
Specific details about Somers’ will, trust, or estate distribution have not been publicly disclosed. Fox News reports that no credible mainstream reporting indicates any inheritance feud among her survivors.
Based on standard estate law and family structure, it is likely that her husband, Alan Hamel, and her son, Bruce Somers Jr., are the primary beneficiaries. However, without court records or public filings, any specific distribution remains unconfirmed.
After Somers’ death, Hamel began dating actress Joanna Cassidy, a former co-star of Somers. He has publicly stated that this relationship aligns with Somers’ wish for him to continue living fully.
What caused the rift between John Ritter and Suzanne Somers?
The feud began in late 1980 during the fifth season of Three’s Company. Somers asked for a salary increase to match the pay of male co-star John Ritter. Producers refused, and she was written out of the final episodes of the season and then fired. 수잔 서머스의 사망, 마지막 말, 유산에 대한 자세한 내용은 데이브 머스테인 암 회고록에서 확인하세요.
Somers later reframed the dispute as an early fight for equal pay in television. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she stated: “My contract was not renewed after I asked for a raise that would put me on par with my co-star John Ritter’s salary.”
“My contract was not renewed after I asked for a raise that would put me on par with my co-star John Ritter’s salary.”
— Suzanne Somers, to Entertainment Tonight
Amy Yasbeck, John Ritter’s widow, said that the pay dispute led to a lasting estrangement until a 1995 reconciliation. People reported that Yasbeck accidentally facilitated a meeting at a Broadway afterparty where Ritter and Somers hugged and ended the freeze.
About a month before Ritter’s death in 2003, he called Somers to invite her to appear in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules. They discussed collaborating on a future project, but Ritter’s sudden death from an aortic dissection ended that plan.
Key events in Suzanne Somers’ life
- 1977 — Marries Alan Hamel (People)
- Late 1980 — Salary dispute during Three’s Company Season 5 leads to departure (Entertainment Tonight)
- 1995 — Reunites with John Ritter at Broadway afterparty (People)
- circa mid-2003 — Ritter phones Somers about a 8 Simple Rules cameo (People)
- October 15, 2023 — Dies at home in Palm Springs (Entertainment Tonight)
Related biographies you may also like
If you found this guide useful, you may also want to explore verified biographical resources for other key figures connected to Somers:
- John Ritter — Wikipedia
- Alan Hamel — Wikipedia
- Joyce DeWitt — Wikipedia
Our pick: The most comprehensive biography
For the single best free resource covering Somers’ entire life, career, cancer advocacy, and media legacy, we recommend the Wikipedia page for Suzanne Somers. It is updated frequently, cited thoroughly, and serves as a starting point for deeper research.
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For a deeper look into her financial legacy, see Suzanne Somers net worth and legacy.
Frequently asked questions about Suzanne Somers
How old was Suzanne Somers when she died?
76 years old. She died one day before her 77th birthday on October 15, 2023 (Entertainment Tonight).
Who was Suzanne Somers married to?
She was married to television host Alan Hamel from 1977 until her death — a marriage of 46 years (People).
Did Suzanne Somers have children?
Yes, she had one son, Bruce Somers Jr., from her first marriage to Bruce Somers (Wikipedia).
What other TV shows did Suzanne Somers star in?
After Three’s Company, she co-starred in Step by Step (1991–1998), She’s the Sheriff (1987–1989), and several TV movies (Wikipedia).
What advocacy work did Suzanne Somers do?
She became a prominent breast cancer activist after her own diagnosis in 2000, writing multiple books on integrative and alternative treatment approaches (People).
Sources cited
- People — Alan Hamel Reveals Final Message from Suzanne Somers (Exclusive)
- Entertainment Tonight — Suzanne Somers Reflects on Getting Fired from Three’s Company and Making Peace with John Ritter
- People — John Ritter’s Widow Helped Reunite Him with Suzanne Somers Before His Death
- Fox News — Suzanne Somers’ Final Wish Led to Her Widower’s Romance with Actress’s Co-Star
- Entertainment Tonight (YouTube) — Alan Hamel Reads Final Love Poem to Suzanne Somers
- AOL / Entertainment Tonight — Exclusive: Suzanne Somers, John Ritter’s Salary Dispute Details
- Wikipedia — Suzanne Somers