Actress Suzanne Somers is being remembered for her acting roles after she peacefully passed away in her home Sunday at the age of 76.
According to People Magazine, her publicist, R. Couri Hay, released a statement noting, “Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.”
Hay also said, “Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family.”
“Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly,” Hay concluded.
Somers was best known for her roles in “Three’s Company” and “Step by Step.”
She was also known for her books and touting the ThighMaster exercise equipment.
Singer Barry Manilow posted about his friendship with Somers on X, formerly Twitter. He noted, “She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever. We shared triumphs and heartaches.”
Suzanne and I were friends for decades. She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever. We shared triumphs and heartaches. Her fame in so many fields overshadowed her real talent as one of our greatest comedic actors, a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one… pic.twitter.com/zVQeGFDRrp
— Barry Manilow (@barrymanilow) October 15, 2023
He remembered her as, not just a great comedic actress, but also “a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one of the world’s best cooks.”
“I will miss her dearly and hope that she is now out of pain and at peace,” he added.
Somers’ husband, Alan Hamel, also shared some touching words. He wrote her a love poem, in all caps, which she read the night before she died, via People Magazine.
It began, “LOVE I USE IT EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I USE IT AT THE END OF EMAILS TO MY LOVING FAMILY. I EVEN USE IT IN EMAILS TO CLOSE FRIENDS. I USE IT WHEN I’M LEAVING THE HOUSE.”
It went on to describe different forms of love and how love can be casually used.
Then Hamel’s verses focus on Somers, “WHAT BRAND OF LOVE DO I FEEL FOR MY WIFE SUZANNE? CAN I FIND IT IN ANY OF THE ABOVE? A RESOUNDING NO!!!! THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.”
He praised their time together and holding hands in their sleep.
Then he concluded, “THERE ARE NO WORDS. THERE ARE NO ACTIONS. NO PROMISES. NO DECLARATIONS. EVEN THE GREEN SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD. SO I WILL CALL IT, ‘US’, UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US.’”
According to Hay, a private family burial will take place this week and a memorial will be held next month.