Meet ’70s sitcom star Suzanne Somers’ son Bruce — who carved out his own Hollywood career

Born on 16 October 1946, Suzanne Somers made her screen debut with a series of uncredited roles in the late ’60s. 

In 1974, Lotsa Luck! gave her a named casting as Gloria and her fame grew with guest roles on The Love Boat, Starsky and Hutch and The Six Million Dollar Man. 

It was a starring role in Three’s Company that won her lasting fame, playing Christmas ‘Chrissy’ Snow, one of the two roommates who invite unlikely candidate Jack Tripper to move into their home.

Chrissy was an exaggerated take on the ‘dumb blonde’ but the actress won audience’s affection with unintentional double entendres and her good nature.

Suzanne first tied the knot in 1965, marrying Bruce Somers. The couple welcomed a son, Bruce Somers Jr., and divorced in 1968.

She married film producer Alan Hamel in 1977 and remained with him until her death in 2023, counting almost 50 years of contented married life.

Suzanne welcomed her only child, son Bruce Somers Jr., with her first husband on 8 November 1965, when Suzanne was 19 years old. Bruce studied dramatic arts at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to earn an MFA in film from UCLA, according to his LinkedIn.

He worked as an executive producer at Lost Kitty before striking out on his own with companies like Somers & Somers Productions and Quigley-Simpson. He has owned Sincbox Media since 1999, working as Chief Storyteller and collaborating with companies like Microsoft and Visa.

As well as his successful career in communications, Bruce had a run of screen credits through the early to mid-’90s. He worked as an assistant location manager on projects like Keeping Secrets (1991) and Exclusive (1992). 

Bruce contributed to his mother’s self-titled project, Somersize, Suzanne Somers: Eat Great, Lose Weight, which he also directed. It seems Bruce is getting the directorial itch again, as he worked on a 2023 episode of U.S. LawShield Member Stories.

Suzanne Somers sadly passed on 15 October 2023. While she’s best remembered for her ’70s legacy, the actress’ success continued into the ’80s and ’90s with She’s the Sheriff and Step by Step.

Bruce paid tribute to his mother on Instagram the day after her passing, on what would have been her 77th birthday. His caption began, “She soared higher than most can dream. She protected those who didn’t have a voice. She asked the questions most didn’t know to ask. She shared her challenges and brought light to solutions. To so many she was a brave warrior who articulated their fears. She wasn’t fearless, but she faced them so we could learn.”