Joyce DeWittis rememberingSuzanne Somersafter her death.
DeWitt, who is best known for her role as Janet Wood onThree’s Company, shared a statement with PEOPLE on her hopes for Somers’ family.
“My heart goes out to Suzanne’s family,” DeWitt, 74, said. “They are a very close family — deeply connected and caring one to the other. I can only imagine how difficult this time is for all of them.”
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The women costarred opposite onThree’s Companybefore Somers' breakout role on the show was cut short due to contract dispute.
In 1980, after four seasons of the series, Somers was fired from the show after demanding equal pay toJohn Ritter. ABC rejected her request for a pay raise from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, according to Somers: “The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’ They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”
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The professional discord also led to the end of DeWitt’s friendship with Somers for decades. The women later reunited on Somers' talk showSuzanne Somers 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, introducing the women’s reunion segment.
They discussed the financial disagreement. “In a group of serious actors, I probably pissed you all off,” Somers said, and both women laughed. “If I did, I’m really sorry. I just really needed money at the time.”
When asked why she appeared on the show, DeWitt replied, “It’s time. I think that you gave me the opportunity to make sure that I walk my talk for the last 30 odd years. Whenever something aboutThree’s Companycomes up, I have relentlessly said that it is my opinion that the only reasonThree’s Companyis worth remembering is that it created an opportunity for all of us to laugh together, to celebrate joy.”
She concluded, “Even if we hadn’t seen each other in a very long time, you are giving me that opportunity to walk my talk.”
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SomersdiedSunday morning at the age of 76 — though Monday would have been her 77th birthday. A statement from her publicist to PEOPLE confirmed she “passed away peacefully at home” after “she survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.”
Somers and DeWitt’s costar Richard Kline — who played Larry Dallas for 110 episodes onThree’s Company— also shared a statement with PEOPLE: “Suzanne was a joy to work with. She totally owned and created the character of Chrissy. My condolences to Alan and her family.”
source: people.com
