After learning of the actress’ passing on Sunday, the legendary singer released a statement paying respect to her.
In the wake of Suzanne Somers’ passing on Sunday at the age of 76, Barry Manilow is paying respect to the late actress and comedian.
The 80-year-old “Could It Be Magic” singer sent a note of condolence to ET on Sunday afternoon, lamenting the loss of Somers, who had fought breast cancer for many years.
Manilow said, “Suzanne and I were friends for decades,” and she did it in the following way. “She was the sister I never had, and my trusted confidant for the rest of my life.” We experienced both victories and defeats together.
“Her fame in so many fields overshadowed her real talent as one of our greatest comedic actors, a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one of the world’s best cooks,” according to Manilow. “I will miss her very much, but I am relieved that she is no longer in any discomfort and can finally rest in peace.”
Since her time on Three’s Company, Somers and Manilow have been close friends. When both were living in Palm Springs, they were even neighbors.
Somers passed away on Sunday at five in the morning, just one day before her 77th birthday. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, her publicist and lifelong friend provided confirmation of the news.
At some point in the early morning hours of October 15th, Suzanne Somers passed away in the comfort of her own home. Over the course of more than 23 years, she fought against an aggressive type of breast cancer, as R. Couri Hay said. “Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family.”
The intentions that Couri’s family had in the beginning were for them to spend her birthday with her on Monday, which was shared by Couri.
“Instead, they will hold a celebration of her extraordinary life and wish to express their gratitude to her countless admirers and devotees who cared deeply for her.” This week, there will be a funeral for close family members, and then a memorial service will be held the following month,” he said.
ET was granted an exclusive interview with Somers in July, during which she revealed that the breast cancer had returned. The star of Step by Step said at the time that she intended to continue to battle her illness.
Since I was in my 20s, I have been coping with the effects of cancer. And even though it rears its ugly head again and over again, I never stop trying to knock it down. “I do everything in my power to avoid letting this sneaky disease dictate my life,” her statement stated. “The cancer in my breast has returned,” she said. When you hear the dreaded phrase “It’s back,” just like every other cancer patient, you get a sick feeling in your stomach. After that, I don my armor and prepare to engage in combat. This is not a new battlefield for me, and I’ve trained hard to be able to handle it.
Somers attributed her success in overcoming her decades-long struggle to the support she received from her children and husband, Alan.
“My cancer is a disease that has affected every member of my family, and when it struck me when I was in my 20s, Alan and I grew even closer, and we tried to cherish every moment of every day.” Since we first met more than 42 years ago, we have not even been apart for a single day. “That’s the major silver lining to my cancer,” she said. “The way my son describes our connection is as one that is functionally reliant on each other. In addition, my wonderful family has always been there for me and provided an enormous amount of support at every turn.
The actress was quite open about her struggles with her health. The Somers fought skin cancer while she was in her thirties, and then breast cancer when she was in her fifties, after being diagnosed with it in the year 2000.