Inside Suzanne Somers’ nasty feud with Joyce DeWitt before the Three’s Company co-stars buried the hatchet 30 years later
Suzanne is best known for her role as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company, a character she played on TV for four years. The show followed three single roommates who were best friends, Jack Tripper, played by John Ritter, Janet Wood, played by Joyce DeWitt, and Chrissy, played by Suzanne. Despite their on-screen friendship, some behind-the-scenes scenes during the fifth season left Suzanne and Joyce at odds for decades.
Three’s Company premiered in 1977, bringing a never-before-seen comedy show to American living rooms. But in 1981, contract negotiations went sour, leaving the famous cast members not speaking to each other for years.
In 1980, Suzanne demanded that producers pay her the same amount as co-star John Ritter — who played Jack — and other male TV stars at the time. She demanded $150,000 an episode, nearly five times her previous salary of $30,000 an episode, People reported. Instead of reaching a deal, the blonde was fired from the show.
Suzanne’s husband, Alan Hamel — a former TV producer who represented her during salary negotiations — explained to the outlet that the decision was intended to discourage other women from asking for higher salaries. Tensions on set became so severe that the actress needed to complete the fifth season, but she was not allowed to socialize with the rest of the cast.
Shockingly, the TV personality had to be escorted to and from a corner of the set where she would engage in bizarre phone conversations. Suzanne’s character Chrissy was later replaced by her on-screen cousin Cindy Snow, played by Jenilee Harrison, and then nurse Terri Alden, played by Priscilla Barnes.
Three’s Company continued for three years without Suzanne, eventually ending in 1984. After her stint on the show, Somers went on to host her own talk show in Las Vegas, write several books, and make a name for herself in the health and beauty industry.
THE JOURNEY OF THE REUNION
In February 2012, the California native finally reunited with Joyce DeWitt on her show Breaking Through. The two former friends shared an emotional moment as they hugged and discussed the different paths their lives had taken. The co-stars also explained their differing perspectives on what happened on set.
Suzanne explained that for her, the decision was always about business. She noted that when she took on the role of Chrissy, she was a single mother in need of money. The TV star married her second husband Hamel shortly after starting the hit series. Joyce, meanwhile, has always been more focused on her craft, studying theater in college and even earning a master’s in fine arts from UCLA.
“I always saw this as a business venture… in a group of serious actors. I probably pissed people off,” Suzanne admitted. But DeWitt actually thanked her former co-star for giving her the opportunity to “walk the talk.” “I’ve always said that the only reason Three’s Company is memorable, I think, is because it gave us all the opportunity to laugh together, to celebrate joy. It was a profound gift,” she said, beaming. Meanwhile, Joyce went on to have a huge career in theatre after Three’s Company ended.
The comedian noted another difference between the two: she never wanted fame and avoided it throughout her career. However, Suzanne was on the other side, working in many other areas of entertainment. Speaking on Somer’s talk show, Joyce praised her, saying: “You fought against cruelty, and it fell apart. But what you did was huge.”
LOSS OF JOHN
Also during their long-awaited reunion, Suzanne and her co-stars paid tribute to their third co-star John Ritter, who died in 2003. She described him as “the greatest real-life comedian of our time.” Despite their differences, the feud between Suzanne and Joyce appears to have been put to rest.
In 2023, the Broadway star appeared in a country music video for the Davisson Brothers Band’s single “Home.” In the clip, the camera lingers for a moment on a framed photo of Joyce with two of her former co-stars, Chrissy, Jack and Janet.
A TRAGIC LOSS
On Sunday, Suzanne passed away at the age of 76 after a long and difficult battle with breast cancer. Her death was confirmed by Page Six early Sunday morning, when the star’s longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay, told the outlet: “Suzanne Somers has peacefully passed away.
