A statement seen by the AP news agency from her long-time publicist, R Couri Hay, said: “Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th.
“Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”She wrote: “As you know, I had breast cancer two decades ago, and every now and then it pops up again, and I continue to bat it down.“This is not new territory for me. I know how to put on my battle gear and I’m a fighter.”She also praised her husband, Alan Hamel, who she said had been by her side “every step of the way”.
“I can’t even explain how much he has done for me. If it’s even possible, we are even closer than ever”, she added.Somers starred in the first five series of Three’s Company, starting in 1977. She also competed on the US version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars, in 2015 alongside her professional partner, Tony Dovolani.We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.