American actress Suzanne Somers passed away on Sunday, Oct. 15. She was 76 years old and had struggled for 23 years with breast cancer.
Her publicist R. Couri Hay, released a statement with details of her passing. “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.”
“Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family,” her publicist added. “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.
“A private family burial will take place this week, with a memorial to follow next month.”
Ms. Somers had been diagnosed with cancer twice before. She was diagnosed with skin cancer in her 30s and breast cancer in her 50s. She was criticized for her reliance on what she’s described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to fight the cancer.
In July, Ms. Somers revealed on Instagram that the breast cancer had returned. “Since I have been taking time off from work, many of you have asked for more details about my health,” she wrote.
“As you know, I had breast cancer two decades ago, and every now and then it pops up again, and I continue to bat it down. I have used the best alternative and conventional treatments to combat it. This is not new territory for me.”
Ms. Somers also appeared on Entertainment Tonight at the time to speak about it. “Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded ‘It’s back,’ you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war,” she said. “This is familiar battleground for me and I’m very tough.”
The actress starred in the sitcom hits “Three’s Company” in 1977 and “Step by Step” in 1991. She also appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including “The Rockford Files,” “Magnum Force,” and “The Six Million Dollar Man.”
She is survived by her husband, Alan Hamel, 87, and her only son, Bruce Somers Jr., 57. She married Mr. Somers at age 19 in 1965 and gave birth to Bruce Jr. before divorcing three years later. She then married Alan Hamel, a television host at the time, in 1977. They have three granddaughters, Camelia, Violet, and Daisy.
