
Suzanne Somers' Final Words
In the final days of her life, Suzanne Somers gave her husband a command — not a plea, not a whisper, but a life directive. "I don't want you to mope around after I'm gone,” PEOPLE reported she told him. Not long after, she was gone — and so began one of Hollywood's most unexpected second acts.
Alan Hamel, her husband of 46 years, was left with a chasm in his heart — and marching orders from the woman he adored. And now? He's not just honoring her dying wish — he's rewriting what late-in-life love looks like in the most unconventional way.
A Love That Rarely Let Go
Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel weren't just a couple — they were a phenomenon. Meeting in 1969 on the set of "The Anniversary Game," they quickly became a fixture in Hollywood and each other's lives. When they finally married in 1977, a union began that would become legendary for its longevity and intensity.
"The last 42 years of our relationship, we did not spend even one hour apart," Hamel told PEOPLE. "We didn't plan it. It just evolved that way."
It was a love that thrived on daily rituals — dressing up for candlelit dinners, laughter over great wine, and constant togetherness. Until October 15, 2023, when Somers died of breast cancer, just one day shy of her 77th birthday.
Somers' Final Gift
In the surreal, emotional countdown to her death, Somers left Hamel with something to hold onto.
"She said 'I want you to live your life. You have a great life. You have a great family. You have great friends. I want you to live your life,'" Hamel recalled, according to PEOPLE.
And he did. But no one expected how he would.
Double Date, Solo Widower
Eighteen months after Somers' passing, Hamel dipped his toes back into dating — in a way that raised more than a few eyebrows.
Not one dinner date. Two. At the same time.
"I started dating two women at the same time," Hamel admitted to PEOPLE. "So that if you saw the three of us sitting in a restaurant having dinner, you'd probably think it was a business meeting. I was fine with that."
The women were longtime friends — both married, both close to Hamel's inner circle. And the setup wasn't romantic, he insisted. It was a return to something he'd deeply missed: companionship.
"I absolutely loved having dinner with two great women," he said, according to PEOPLE. "There's nothing romantic going on there. They're just really long-term friendly relationships."
But the real surprise was still to come.
Enter Joanna Cassidy
If the name Joanna Cassidy rings a bell, it should. The veteran actress — best known for "Blade Runner," "Six Feet Under," and "Hollywood Wives" — once shared the screen with Somers. And now, she's sharing her life with Hamel.
Yes, Hamel is officially dating his late wife's former co-star. The pair were spotted dining in Malibu earlier this year, and he confirmed to PEOPLE that they're seeing each other. He's 89. She's 79. And they've known each other for 45 years.
"I don't know where the relationship is going," Hamel said, according to PEOPLE. "I just know that at this very moment, it's wonderful ... It should go on for a long time being wonderful."
The Daily Mail reported that he added, "Most men would love to have a Joanna in their life."
Somers' Presence, Still Felt
Despite moving forward, Hamel isn't moving on. Not really. His new romance isn't a replacement — it's an evolution. And Somers remains a part of every chapter.
Speaking to Page Six, Hamel shared, "I am blessed with a — thanks to incredible Suzanne — a privileged life and our business we created 50 years ago," as reported by the Daily Mail.
Even Cassidy's arrival in his life feels like a bridge to his past. The bond they shared on-screen with Somers now extends into something new — something grounded in decades of shared memories, grief, and unexpected connection.
Beyond the Spotlight
While the world remembers Suzanne Somers as the bubbly blonde from "Three's Company" or the matriarch in "Step by Step," Hamel knew her simply as Suzanne — his best friend, his partner, his every day.
She was the woman who told him not to mope. The woman who trusted him enough to let him go, even as she was slipping away.
And now, in a twist no one saw coming, the man who spent 46 years never spending an hour apart from his wife has opened the door to a second act — one filled with candlelit dinners, a touch of scandal, and maybe, just maybe, another chance at love.
References: Alan Hamel Reveals Suzanne Somers' Final Message to Him Before She Died (Exclusive) | Suzanne Somers' widower Alan Hamel shares her final message to him before her death amid new romance | Iconic '70s Actress' Final Message to Husband Revealed 2 Years After Her Tragic Death