Suzanne Somers is an American actress, author and entrepreneur. She first reached fame as Chrissy Snow in the 1977 television sit-com, Three's Company and was later popular in 1991 as Carol Foster Lambert in the sit-com, Step by Step. Suzanne Somers is also noted for her books on health and wellness and her promotion of fitness products such as the ThighMaster®.

Born Suzanne Marie Mahoney in San Bruno, California on 16 October 1946, Suzanne's childhood was often violent and difficult. Her father, Frank, was a verbally and physically abusive alcoholic. He had a job loading beer into the box cars of trains while Suzanne's mother, Marion, looked after Suzanne and her three other children. Suzanne had trouble as a student because of her dyslexia, but she thrived in theater arts.

After winning a music scholarship to college and spending six months there, Suzanne became pregnant. The father of the child was Bruce Somers, and Suzanne married him and named their son after him. Suzanne Somers's marriage ended after two years when her husband discovered that Suzanne was having an affair with her former drama teacher.

A year after her divorce, single mom Suzanne landed a job on a game show hosted by Alan Hamel. Although they later married, Suzanne became pregnant with Hamel's child when he was still married to someone else. They agreed on an abortion and Suzanne experienced major bleeding for a few days. In 1971, her son from her first marriage, Bruce, was hit by a car. The accident was serious, but Bruce survived.

In 1977, after a few small television and film roles, Suzanne accepted the role of Chrissy Snow on the sit-com, Three's Company and also married Alan Hamel that same year. The show was a success and Suzanne's character was a big hit. After the fourth season of Three's Company, Suzanne asked the ABC network for a large increase of over $100,000 US Dollars (USD) per episode plus partial ownership of the show. She was fired as a result, but filed a lawsuit suing ABC for two million dollars for damages. The network settled for approximately $30,000 USD.

Suzanne Somers fought breast cancer in the mid-1980s and became serious about health and wellness topics. She authored many popular diet and fitness books as well as sold fitness products such as the ThighMaster. Suzanne Somers enjoyed sit-com success again in 1991 as mom Carol Foster Lambert on the hit series, Step by Step. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. Suzanne lost her Malibu home in a fire in 2007 and released her book, Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness, in 2008.