Suzanne Somers: Joyce DeWitt reacts to death of ‘Three’s Company’ co-star
Joyce DeWitt: The "Three's Company" actress, right, paid tribute to her former co-star, Suzanne Somers, left. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Joyce DeWitt, who co-starred with the late Suzanne Somers in the sitcom “Three’s Company,” offered an emotional tribute in a statement to People magazine.
Somers, 76, died on Sunday, a day before her 77th birthday and after battling breast cancer for more than two decades.
DeWitt, 74, who played Janet Wood on the series, is the lone survivor of the three main characters of “Three’s Company.” John Ritter, who played Jack Tripper in the series, died on Sept. 11, 2003.
Joyce DeWitt Sends Love to Suzanne Somers' Family After Her Death: 'My Heart Goes Out' (Exclusive) https://t.co/sEnwuC1TVz
“I hope that will assist her family’s hearts in healing as they travel through this difficult time,” DeWitt wrote to People.
Somers was fired from “Three’s Company” after four seasons after she became embroiled in a contract dispute. Somers, who was making $30,000 per episode, said she wanted to be paid the same as Ritter, who was pulling in $150,000 per show, according to the magazine.
Somers also demanded a 10% cut of the show’s profits, according to Variety. Her role was ultimately reduced to a weekly walk-on role, and she was written out of the series after the 1980-81 season. Chrissy Snow’s character was replaced by her clumsy cousin (Jenilee Harrison) and by Priscilla Barnes, who starred on the show from 1981 to 1984, according to IMDb.com.
Somers’ contract squabbles led to the end of her friendship with DeWitt for decades, People reported. The two actresses later reunited on Somers’ talk show, “Suzanne Breaking Through.”
“It’s been over 30 years since Joyce and I have seen each other, so I have to admit I’m a little nervous,” Somers said at the time as she introduced DeWitt.
“In a group of serious actors, I probably pissed you all off,” Somers said, causing both women to laugh, People reported. “If I did, I’m really sorry. I just really needed money at the time.”
DeWitt said the reunion happened because it was time, People reported.
“I think that you gave me the opportunity to make sure that I walk my talk for the last 30-odd years,” DeWitt said. “Whenever something about ‘Three’s Company’ comes up, I have relentlessly said that it is my opinion that the only reason ‘Three’s Company’ is worth remembering is that it created an opportunity for all of us to laugh together, to celebrate joy.”
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Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 06: Suzanne Somers attends the Clive Davis 90th Birthday Celebration at Casa Cipriani on April 06, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 16: Actress Suzanne Somers arrives at CNN's "Larry King Live" final broadcast party at Spago restaurant on December 16, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Denise Richards, Dita Von Teese and Suzanne Somers attend the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2011 during Mecerdes-Benz fashion week at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on February 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Heart Truth Red) (Dimitrios Kambouris)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years PALM SPRINGS, CA - JANUARY 03: Actress Suzanne Somers attends the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala at Parker Palm Springs on January 3, 2015 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for PSIFF) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for PSIFF)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Producer Alan Hamel (L) and actress Suzanne Somers attend the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 17: Actress Suzanne Somers (L) and husband Alan Hamel arrive at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts Gala at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts on October 17, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 08: Actress Suzanne Somers attends the 2016 Carousel Of Hope Ball at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 8, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years PALM SPRINGS, CA - JANUARY 02: Suzanne Somers attends the 29th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala at Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2018 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival ) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs In)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Suzanne Somers visits SiriusXM Studios on January 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Photos: Suzanne Somers through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 07: Actress Suzanne Somers arrives at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at Sunset Tower on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Suzanne Somers: John Ritter and Suzanne Somers in a 1978 episode of "Three's Company." (Jim Britt/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Suzanne Somers: Suzanne Somers, Joyce DeWitt, Don Knotts and John Ritter from a 1979 episode of "Three's Company." (Dennis Plehn/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Suzanne Somers: John Davidson and Suzanne Somers appearing in the 1985 series "Goodbye Charlie." (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/ABC)
Suzanne Somers: Paul Anka, Donna Summer and Suzanne Somers in Monte Carlo in 1978. (Patrice PICOT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Suzanne Somers: Suzanne Somers appearing in a science fiction sketch on the television special "The Carpenters ... Space Encounters" in 1978. (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Suzanne Somers: Suzanne Somers and Dick Clark during The Cerebral Palsy Telethon on Dec. 30, 1978 at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Suzanne Somers: Suzanne Somers performs during a 1996 show in Los Angeles. (Jim Steinfeldt/Getty Images)
Suzanne Somers: John Ritter is flanked by Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers in a 1978 episode of "Three's Company." (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Suzanne Somers: Suzanne Somers performs in Los Angeles in 1996. (Jim Steinfeldt/Getty Images)
Suzanne Somers: Tributes poured in after the actress' death was announced on Sunday. ( Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)