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Suzanne Somers – who starred in multiple hit shows and films across her lengthy career – has died just one day before her 77th birthday.
Suzanne Somers has died just one day before her 77th birthday following a decades-long battle with cancer.
According to the actress' longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay, she passed away early on Sunday morning.
"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," he said in a statement to Page Six.
"Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family."
The Three's Company and Step by Step actress' death comes less than three months after her husband, Alan Hamel, confirmed that her breast cancer had returned.
The cast of <i>Step By Step</i>, including Somers. Picture: Warner Bros. Television
Hay added that Somers' family was originally planning to get together as a celebration of her birthday, but would not honour her "extraordinary life" instead.
"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."
A source close to the late star told Page Six that her husband was by her side when she passed.
"She died in her new 'all green home' in Palm Springs, in her sleep with her loving husband by her side," they said.
After appearing in several small roles throughout the late 1960s and early '70s, Somers became a household name as Chrissy Snow in the sitcom Three's Company in 1977.
She went on to star in numerous other productions, including Step by Step - and even hosted her own talk show, The Suzanne Show, which lasted for one season in 2012.
Somers was first diagnosed with breast cancer in her 50s after previously battling skin cancer decades earlier and overcoming "two hyperplasia".
"I have been living with cancer since my 20s. And every time that little f**ker pops up, I continue to bat it back," Somers told Entertainment Tonight in July.
"I do my best not to let this insidious disease control me.
"It's a recurrence of my breast cancer. 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. This is familiar battleground for me and I'm very tough."
The actress is survived by a son, Bruce Jr., 58. She was also a stepmother to Stephen and Leslie Hamel.
Originally published as Hollywood star dead after decades-long battle
