She delighted audiences for decades with her charm and humor. She’s also been everything from an iconic sitcom star to an infomercial icon, and a sex symbol given her modeling career and the fact that she posed for Playboy. She may have been famous with different audiences for different reasons, butSuzanne Somerswas also simply a great performer and a star who had an amazing career as an actress, model, and writer.
As the news filtered in thatshe had sadly passed away, despite it being tragic, many fans applauded her strength and courage since her many battles with cancer over the last two decades were well known. In the end, Somers bravely battled her way to the age of 76, leaving a trailblazing legacy behind her as a true icon of the entertainment world. Her medical views may have been controversial at times, but she was also praised as a role model in show business. Somers was widely hailed for standing up for herself at a time when the industry never allowed women to have much of a say about anything.
Given her wonderful legacy, it is with sadness that we say goodbye to her, but also with an air of celebration that we fondly remember her best work. With this in mind, these were Suzanne Somers' best performances across film and television.
10Starsky and Hutch
As an iconic TV show from the mid to late ’70s,Starsky and Hutchhad a revival in the early ’00s when Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson starred in a rebooted film based on it. The original show revolved around two cops played by Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul. With one an army vet, intense, and moody, and the other more laid back and intellectual in his approach, the two made an unlikely pairing but worked well together.
With some memorable cars, tropes, and plenty of action and comedy, the show became an iconic one and often featured well-known guests. Its cult popularity led to syndication, novels, a video game, and a movie, and it was recently announced thata reboot series is in the works. During season two of the show, in an episode titled “The Vampire”, Suzanne Somers guest starred as a character named Linda Offenbekker and was memorable in the role.
Early on in her career, Suzanne Somers famously struggled financially and took whatever roles she could get. However, even in her younger years, she landed roles in notable shows. In 1965, she appeared in the beloved show abouta delightful pooch,Lassie.One of the most popular and longest-running scripted shows ever, it ran from 1954 until 1973.
The famous Collie was of course the star of the show, but Lassie’s doggy adventures usually also encompassed a host of human and animal co-stars. In an episode titled “High Water” from season 11, Suzanne Somers made a guest appearance in it. She played Linda Banning as Lassie and the ranger have to help when a girl and her puppy are trapped after a storm causes rising waters.
8The Six Million Dollar Man
Another classic show,The Six Million Dollar Manfollowed retired astronaut Col. Steve Austin after an accident leaves him injured.Rebuilt with bionic featuresand enhanced attributes, he’s then recruited to work for a government agency. With some great action and sci-fi tropes that were ahead of its time, the show has a huge cult following.
By 1977, Suzanne Somers had married Alan Hamel, the host of the game show she once worked on. Her TV career had blossomed since those days and that same year, she also appeared on an episode ofThe Six Million Dollar Man.Titled “The Cheshire Project”, Somers played a test pilot in the episode. Testing a radar-invisible plane, Austin has to investigate when she and the plane both disappear.
7Rich Men, Single Women
While Suzanne Somers was not known for being a prolific actress in films, by the ’90s, off the back of her successful run with network sitcoms, she also began appearing in some TV films. One of those wasRich Men, Single Women. A romantic comedy at heart, the film was well-received among audiences. Coming at a time when Somers was at her peak fame as a star and a sex symbol, she was cast alongside Deborah Adair and Heather Locklear in the film.
She and Locklear, in particular, turned many heads in the film since both were consideredstereotypical “blonde bombshells”. The film saw the ladies in a gold-digging scheme as they plot to get rich men to marry them by throwing a party at a mansion they only have temporary access to.
6The Ropers
AlthoughThe Roperswas a short-lived spin-off sitcom thatnever managed to gain the same fameas its predecessor, it still had many memorable episodes. Coming off the success ofThree’s Company,the show followed from there with many cameos and guest appearances from it to delight audiences.
However, the show couldn’t capture the same massive ratings and fizzled pretty quickly. Before that though, Suzanne Somers was among those who guest starred in the show. Given her popularity fromThree’s Company,it was a great touch to see her as Chrissy Snow again inThe Ropers.
Three’s Company Cast: Where They Are Now and Who Passed Away
A popular sitcom that ran for eight seasons, here’s where the Three’s Company cast are today, and which of them sadly aren’t with us anymore.
5Candid Camera
From 1997 to the turn of the century, Suzanne Somers reinvented herself once more. This time, she became the co-host of the very popularhidden camera reality show,Candid Camera. Following on from variations of a concept that has been a part of television since 1948, this one saw practical jokes being played on unsuspecting real people while hidden cameras captured all the hilarity.
Somers co-hosted alongside Peter Funt, and the pair worked well together as Somers played to a deliberately ditsy trope that made her the more fun and lovable one between them. It became one of the final incarnations of the show, with a 2014 attempted reboot featuring Funt and Mayim Bialik falling flat. Nevertheless, with its hilarious gags, iconic song, and catchphrase “Smile, you’re onCandidCamera,” the show made for one of the most memorable stints of Suzanne Somers' TV career.
4She’s the Sheriff
After first leaving behindher most famous role as Chrissy Snow, Suzanne Somers later returned to network sitcoms withShe’s the Sheriff. The show aired in first-run syndication and saw Somers play Hildy Granger, the wife of a Sheriff from a small town in Nevada.
When her husband dies suddenly, with two kids to support, Hildy accepts the commission to take over from her husband as the town’s new Sheriff, despite her lack of experience. Hildy has to deal with all the town’s problems while learning to work with her deputies. While it was a funny show and Somers was great in its lead role, it never fared that well and was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons.
3Thighmaster Infomercials
Although Suzanne Somers was an iconic actress and TV personality, she was often known for work outside mainstream films and TV series too. One of her most famous roles came from her time as the very recognizable face of an iconic infomercial. TheThighmasterwas a famous exercise product developed in Sweden and made popular during the ’90s by Suzanne Somers' performances in infomercials that advertised them.
Marketed as an easy-to-use product used to build thigh muscles, the hook was that it could be used while doing something else. Given how well-known Somers was for her figure, she made the perfect spokesmodel for it. Somers also added a great effervescence and energy to the performances for the Infomercials which added to herreputation as a sex symbolsince she brought an inherent sex appeal to the marketing efforts of the Thighmaster. Not only did she go on to reveal that she later attained outright ownership of the product, but it also came to light thatshe made a whopping $300 millionfrom it as sales of the Thighmaster continue to this day.
2Step by Step
After her long-running relationship with ABC and her fame (and notoriety) from her time on hit sitcoms,Step by Stepbecame another iconic one Suzanne Somers will always be remembered for. Running for seven seasonsbetween 1991 and 1998, the show starred Somers in one of the lead roles alongside Patrick Duffy.
The pair played, Carol and Frank, a couple who were each divorced and had children from their previous marriages. When their whirlwind relationship leads them to marry each other, the blended family all move in together and have to learn to live with each other. An iconic sitcom, the show was very popular and beloved for its ensemble cast and humor, amid its wholesome image.
1Three’s Company
Although Suzanne Somers was already well-established as an actress and model by then, it was her role in the iconic sitcomThree’s Companythat elevated her fame most. A part of the original cast, she played the unforgettable Chrissy Snow, a ditsy but sweet secretary who joined John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt as the famous roommate trio from the show.Funny but still wholesome, the show has a huge cult following and is one of the most memorable sitcoms from its era. Sadly, after John Ritter’s passing, and other older members of the cast, Suzanne Somers is also one of its beloved stars who are no longer with us.
However, her role in the timeless show will never be forgotten, with its popularity still apparent to this day. Somers owes a lot of her fame to a small role given to her by George Lucas in his film,American Graffiti.However, from there, she would go on to become a trailblazing actress onceThree’s Companycame along. While it’s sad that the entertainment industry has lost such a formidable woman, Suzanne Somers' legacy and bravery is certain to live forever — both through her iconic roles, and the strength she showed with every battle she fought and hurdle she overcame throughout her career.
