Suzanne Somers transitioned from a 1970s television breakout star to a prolific author and polarizing health advocate. Best known for her role as Chrissy Snow on the hit sitcom Three's Company, she spent the latter half of her career building a retail empire centered on the ThighMaster and a vast collection of books concerning diet, well-being, and alternative medicine.
Early Life and Career Origins
Born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, Suzanne Marie Mahoney grew up in a working-class Irish-American household. After graduating from Capuchino High School, she briefly attended the University of San Francisco before leaving following a pregnancy. Her professional trajectory began in the late 1960s, involving work as a model for the Grimme Modeling Agency and a prize model for the game show Anniversary Game. She gained early exposure through minor cinematic appearances, including roles in American Graffiti and Magnum Force, alongside guest spots on television series such as The Rockford Files and The Six Million Dollar Man.
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ABC president Fred Silverman cast Somers as Chrissy Snow in Three's Company after witnessing her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The sitcom became a major ratings success, centering on the comedic premise of roommates bypassing landlord restrictions. By 1980, tensions arose during contract negotiations when Somers requested a salary increase to match her male co-star, John Ritter. The resulting standoff led to her role being significantly diminished before the network eventually terminated her contract. Somers pursued legal action against the network, though the litigation concluded with limited success.
Literary and Commercial Ventures
Following her tenure in sitcoms, Somers shifted her focus to publishing and product endorsements. She became the public face of the ThighMaster, an exercise device that became a staple of television advertising. Beyond commercial endorsements, she authored over 25 books, including autobiographies, diet guides, and poetry. While many of these titles reached best-seller status, her medical claims—specifically regarding bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and alternative cancer treatments—attracted significant criticism from the medical establishment.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, San Bruno
- Died: 2023, Palm Springs
- Education: Mercy High School, Capuchino High School, University of San Francisco
- Famous role: Chrissy Snow on Three's Company
- Notable product: ThighMaster
- Awards: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Burial site: Desert Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
What caused the dispute on Three's Company?
Somers requested a salary increase to $150,000 per episode to match her co-star John Ritter, but the network offered only a minimal raise.
How many books did Suzanne Somers write?
She wrote more than 25 books, including four diet books, two autobiographies, and a volume of poetry.
Achievements
- Educated at University of San Francisco
- Worked as actor, model and writer
