2020-03-30_People

She’s recovering from a recent hip fracture and

moving a little more slowly than usual, but Suzanne

Somers remains a preternaturally cheery force of

nature. “This is a real lesson in humility,” the actress

and bestselling author says of her injury, which she

attributes to a couple of “freak” incidents. “But I

don’t have bad days or moody days. I’ve been around

long enough to know that there are highs and lows.

And the lows are just your time to think and rein-

vent until you start having fun again.”

The effervescent 73-year-old star has lived by that

mantra through trauma and upheaval, including a

childhood marred by abuse and an unceremoni-

ous firing from her hit TV series Three’s Company.

Instead of giving in to negativity, Somers forged new

he’s r re

oving a

mers rem

re. “This is

tselling au

to a coupl

d days or m

now th

just y

art hav

ent 7

ough t

hildhood

‘I’m not perfect, but

I feel good about myself. And

I wake up happy every day’

—SUZANNE SOMERS

paths, building an empire of self-help books, fitness

and skin-care products and reframing an outdated

notion of what it means to age. “There is juice and

zest in this next chapter,” says Somers over a nip of

tequila in the sprawling Palm Springs, Calif., home

she shares with her husband of 43 years, former TV

producer Alan Hamel. “Even now, I wake up every

morning with a spring in my step.”

A California native, Somers was raised by her

mom, Marion, a medical secretary, and her father,

Frank, an alcoholic who worked in a brewery, who

she says constantly bullied and belittled her. She

began acting in the 1970s, landing the role of vapid

but kindhearted Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company

in 1977. She was famously fired in 1980 after asking

for a raise from $30,000 to $150,000 an episode, on

par with what costar John Ritter was paid. If she

hadn’t demanded equal pay, “I probably never would

have left,” she says. “And I would’ve been in every sit-

com after. But I was ostracized [from Hollywood].”

After spending the next few years performing in

Las Vegas, Somers launched her Somersize fitness

books, becoming a force in the emerging wellness

industry. In 2000she was diagnosed with breast

cancer (she opted out of chemotherapy but under-

Three’s Company

“That show is so

beloved,” says

Somers (with costars

Joyce DeWitt

and John Ritter in

1979). “Who knew

Chrissy Snow would

become so iconic?”

Step by Step

Ten years after

Three’s Company,

Somers landed this

hit ABC sitcom,

costarring Patrick

Duffy, which aired

from 1991 to 1998.

Stronger

than Ever

“I like to keep my

mind expanded,”

says Somers

(standing beside the

old merry-go-round

on her property).

“And I try to keep my

body in as top form

as I possibly can.”

From

TV to

Fitness

Icon

The Thighmaster

Somers debuted her

exercise gadget’s first

commercial in 1991.

More than 6 million

sold in 18 months.

TANNING; STYLIST: CARYL EAGLE/ZENOBIA; PROP STYLIST: HAIR: NATHAN RICKEL; TAN: ASHTON’S MOBILE AIRBRUSH

JOHNNY CUBERT; ON-SITE PRODUCTION: RACHAEL LIEBERMAN;

FROM TOP: ABC/GETTY IMAGES(2)

P13SOM4A.indd 54 FINAL 3/17/20 12:18 AM