She was one of the biggest blonde bombshells of the 1970s and we all loved her in the sitcom Three’s Company.
But in recent years, Suzanne Somers has experienced loss, upsetting ups and downs – and severe health issues.
I have always loved Suzanne Somers – she’s down-to-earth, funny, and inspirational. The well–renowned actress, singer, author, businesswoman, and health spokesperson has shown that she’s an out-of-the-box thinker and doer.
Her acting career started during the late 1960s and early 1970s when she started appearing in game shows, movies, and sitcoms. The 76-year-old actress then catapulted to stardom after appearing in Three’s Company, where she starred as ditzy blonde Chrissy Snow in one of the best TV comedies ever.
Portraying a stereotypical dumb blonde, Suzanne was such a character on the show. For many of us, she will always be Chrissie from Three’s company.
Dirty exit from Three’s Company
Unfortunately, her exit from the series was controversial. There are many different versions of why Suzanne Somers had to leave Three’s Company, but all of them include money. Some say her problem was demanding the same money as John Ritter, the ”real” star of the series.
In late 1980, after four seasons on the Emmy-winning TV show, Suzanne wanted a hefty salary raise. She was fed up with the fact that the men on the show were getting paid more. The talented actress decided to stand up for what she believed in and demanded between $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, as well as 10 percent ownership of the show’s profits. ABC’s answer? They told her to walk.
”The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People. ”They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”
After leaving the show, her relationship with the cast of Three’s Company went south. Suzanne and John Ritter didn’t even talk to each other for 20 years.
But shortly before Ritter’s death in 2003, the actor called his former co-star and they reconciled.
”I’m at the beauty salon. Haven’t talked to him for 20 years and the receptionist comes over to me and says you have a phone call … and she says, ‘It’s John Ritter,'” Suzanne told Entertainment Tonight. “He said, ‘Hey babe’ … And then he said, ‘I forgive you,’ which took a lot of maturity on my part not to say, ‘You forgive me?’ So, I say, ‘Thanks.’”
Life after Three’s Company
While starring in Three’s Company, it seemed that Suzanne had a whole career ahead of her in the acting business. She had the public’s admiration and was a household name, surely destined for bigger roles. But after leaving the ABC hit show, it was hard for the international sex symbol to stay relevant.
Suzanne tried to make it on other TV shows, and had some degree of success – but it was challenging for her to achieve the same popularity as in the late 1970s.
Today, she’s famous for things wholly different to acting.
The California native has written a series of self-help books, two autobiographies, and four diet books. Suzanne is also a businesswoman and an advocate for alternative medicine.
Many of her books are about aging and how to stay ”Sexy Forever” – her mission is to age gracefully, and no one can say that she’s not successful regarding that.
According to many, the 76-year-old power woman still looks half her age. It’s quite remarkable that she can keep in shape, considering what she’s been through.
Fighting cancer
In 2000, Suzanne was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
“When you hear those three words, ‘You have cancer’ — wow — that’s coming face to face with your mortality,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. “You never think that you’re not here forever.”
“I thought, how ironic — I was known on ‘Three’s Company’ as the Queen of the Jiggle,” referring to her breasts. “I believe this happened to me because I was a sex symbol — whatever that is.”
Suzanne had a lumpectomy to remove cancer. She also underwent radiation therapy, though refused to have chemotherapy. Instead, she went against the doctor’s recommendation and was treated with a fermented mistletoe extract called Iscador.
After her treatment, Suzanne decided to change her diet and sleeping patterns. For years, the 76-year-old has promoted a healthy lifestyle, and she has said that her breast cancer diagnosis in 2000 served as a wake-up call.
Today, she only eats only organic food and uses fresh herbs as medicine.
“Today some people say to me—relative to all the supplements and vitamins I take, all the hormones I rub on daily, the green drink I have every morning, the probiotics, etc.—that it’s a lot of work. I always respond: It’s a lot more work to be sick,” she told Parade in 2013.
Only eating ”clean food” has helped the star to maintain a youthful appearance, according to herself.
”I like the way I look. I like the way I feel. I like my energy. I have wisdom. I have perspective, and I can tell you that aging can be so incredible if you know how to approach it,” she told Behind The Velvet Rope With David Yontef in 2022.
On October 16, Suzanne Somers will celebrate her 77th. In 2019, she did it in a way that many of us only dream of, in her birthday suit.
The celebratory photo showed Suzanne squatting in a field of flowers and grass in Palm Springs, California. The former Three’s Company actress bared it all on Instagram and was met with countless supportive comments, while others said that the actress was “too old” to be acting like this, and believed it was “bad taste”, according to Yahoo.
“Suzanne I hate to say this but I don’t think that picture is Tastefully done it looks gross,” one commenter wrote.
“Jealous?? Hardly!! I’m an extremely open minded woman but this photo is lacking class,” another person wrote on Instagram.
“Suzanne just doesn’t look good anymore to flaunt herself in her old bday suit. Sorry Suzi but you’re too old for this. Show some class (if you can find it) and put on a tshirt & jeans and then you will look hot.”
While some may consider it controversial, the amount of love and support she received on her 73rd birthday said otherwise. Many fans took the opportunity wish her a happy birthday. Others praised her for posing nude and sharing it on social media.
“I must say that the smile on your face says it all. If the things you do in your life make you show us all that beautiful smile then you go for it. You are gorgeous and I don’t think you should hide anything if it makes you happy. You spread joy to all the true fans that Love you and to be honest, if someone can’t handle you being you then they can just move along,” one fan wrote.
Suzanne seems so kind, humble, and happy to be honest in her ways of health.
It’s great that she has helped so many people with her honesty and her books – a lot of women keep their aging secrets to themselves. Thanks for all the great memories on the screen and for being an inspiration, Suzanne! You’re a great person and a living legend!
