Suzanne Somers passed away today, the day before her 77th birthday, from a battle with cancer.
“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,” Somers’ longtime publicist R. Couri Hay wrote in a statement on behalf of the actress’ family to Variety.
“Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family. 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.”
Somers literally drove onto the scene in 1973’s America Graffiti as the blonde in the Thunderbird.
Four years later, she landed the role in Three’s Company, and that made her a household name. At first, we all loved the ditzy Chrissy Snow. And then we were all shocked and respected her when she was unceremoniously fired from the show for asking to be paid what she was worth.
She might not have gotten money from the series, but she got it from Thighmaster. It was a portable exercise machine that was the hit of the ’90s. As was her show Step By Step, which was also hit on Friday nights.
Somers continued to act, but her later years were spent selling organic beauty products and clothing.
Today, let’s honor her by watching one of her television shows and laughing with the blonde who was smarter than she played!
Somers is survived by her husband, Alan Hammel, her son, Bruce Jr., from a previous marriage, three grandchildren, and Hammel’s two children.
Ron Cephas Jones “has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue,” his representatives told People. “Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him.”
Cephas Jones had been acting for over 30 years but found his biggest success in 2016 when he landed the role of Randall’s biological father on This Is Us. He earned two Emmies for his portrayal of William Hill.
Along with those statues, he was nominated for a 2022 Tony Award for his role in Lynn Nottage’s play Clyde’s.
The actor is survived by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Treat Williams passed away today in Dorset, Vermont, at the age of 71, after his motorcycle was cut off by a driver making a turn.
His wife, Pam, and their two children, Gil and Ellie, released this statement to Deadline: “It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Treat Williams has passed away tonight in Dorset, Vermont, after a fatal motorcycle accident. As you can imagine, we are shocked and greatly bereaved at this time.
“Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it. It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him.
“We are beyond devastated and ask that you respect our privacy as we deal with our grief. To all his fans, please know that Treat appreciated all of you and please continue to keep him in your hearts and prayers.”
Treat got his start on Broadway, so it makes sense that his breakout role would be the musical Hair in 1979. He played a hippie who was the leader of his group of friends in NYC. He was fighting the man, the establishment, and the war, and it was the war that killed his character. He gave such a performance. It is one that will never be forgotten.
Just like when he played the compassionate Dr. Andy Brown on Everwood. Along with moving to a small town after his wife died, he was raising his two children, who were missing his mother. He was doing the best he could, and we were rooting for him with every step he took. He was the type of doctor you want to look over you when you were healthy and be caring with you when you were not.
In every role that he played, he brought his one-of-a-kind presence to the screen. Whether he was playing a tough guy in The Substitute franchise, the loving dad in Chesapeake Shores, the troubled father in White Collar and Chicago Fire, politicians, or law enforcement of all levels, I could go on.
But he was a man that seemed as lovable and wonderful off-camera as he was when he was in front of it. He would share photos from his beloved Vermont home. We would see the snow-covered landscape in the winter and the beautiful grass in the summer. In fact, just two hours before we got word of his passing, he shared a video of himself mowing his lawn, happy as could be, “wishing he could bottle the scent” of freshly cut grass.
And happy is what he made me ever since I saw Hair as a little girl. I had a crush on him from that movie. And then a whole new appreciation for him with Everwood. His death hit me the hardest since Robin Williams. I never met him, but I did chat with him on the phone. I don’t know if he knew how much it meant to me.
But I hope he feels my love and the love of everyone else he touched as he is on his way to heaven. My heart also goes out to his family.
Tonight, I will be sleeping with Hair on Tubi. And tomorrow, I will watch some of his other many roles on the streaming site for free.
Tina Turner passed away today at the age of 83 after a long illness.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” Peter Lindbergh announced. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
Turner was one of the most iconic singers of the 20th Century. Her voice was so powerful that she was given the title Queen of Rock’n’Roll. And she was a Queen among the peasants of singers.
She sang Proud Mary, and we were proud of her. But not as proud as when the singer finally walked away from her abusive husband and singing partner, Ike Turner.
Turner told her story about breaking free for him, and it helped other women walk away from the abusive people in their lives. She gave them the strength to do it. She taught women we can stand on our own, and we did.
But we didn’t have the legs that she had! So that is why she had those beauties insured.
With all of the hardships she had in her life, she found true love and married her soulmate ten years ago. Erwin Bach loved her so much that in 2017, he gave her one of his kidneys to keep her around longer.
But today, he lost her, and so did we. She might be gone, but her music will live on. So, let’s sing one of her legendary songs, like What’s Love Got to Do with It or Better Be Good to Me so that our voices can lift her up to heaven.
Burt Bacharach passed away yesterday at the age of 94. His family released this statement: “It is with saddened hearts that we share the passing of our father, husband and friend. He gave the world so much, and we are eternally grateful. The music is always there, so please keep listening. We send our love from team Bacharach, because that’s what friends are for.”
You might not know his name, but you know the songs he wrote and composed. They were sung by such beautiful voices as The Carpenters, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, Tom Jones, and so many more.
Anytime you heard one of his many tunes, you would just have to sing along, just like they did in My Best Friend’s Wedding to Say a Little Prayer. That was the power of his cheesy love tunes, whether it is was Close to You, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, Wishin’ and Hopin’, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, or What’s New Pussycat. I could go on and on with his singles that touched our hearts.
But I am too busy singing them all. And I hope you do the same today to honor him.
While his fingers have been silenced down here on earth, the angels are getting a great concert up in heaven with him and Karen Carpenter.
