She was born Suzanne Marie Mahoney in San Bruno, California to an alcoholic father. She was a poor student and suffered from dyslexia. Suzanne went to college on a music scholarship, but left after soon becoming pregnant. She gave birth to her son Bruce Jr. in November 1965, after marrying the boy's father, Bruce Somers. She left her husband two years later and began modelling. In 1971 ber son Bruce was severely injured when he was hit by a car.
She began acting in small roles during the early 1970s before landing the role of the ditzy blonde Chrissy Snow on the ABC sitcom Three's Company in 1977. At the beginning of the 1980-81 season, Suzanne demanded a raise from on the from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 an episode and 10% ownership of the show. When the ABC refused, Somers boycotted the second and fourth shows of the season, claiming illness. She finished the remaining season on her contract, but her role was cut back to 1 minute. After her contract expired, she sued ABC for $2 million, claiming that her credibility in show business had been damaged. The suit was settled for about $30,000.
During the 1980s she became a Las Vegas entertainer. She was the spokeswoman for the "ThighMaster", a piece of exercie equipment that is squeezed between one's thighs, which later the spawned the "ButtMaster".
More recently she stared in the 90's sitcom Step By Step and cohosted Candid Camera with Peter Funt. A made for TV movie was made about her career of "Three's Company". She has released two autobiographies, two self-help books, and four diet books.
Filmography
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