RIP, Suzanne Somers a.k.a. Krissy From ‘Three’s Company’ (Only Janet Remains)
The world of television lost one of its’ biggest stars of the ’70’s and beyond as Suzanne Somers has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. And while she appeared in the excellent 1973 film American Graffiti by George Lucas, and appearances on The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, it was the classic ’70’s sitcom of Three’s Company that made her a breakout star.
383017 17: Actress Suzanne Sommers arrives at the 10th Annual Fire & Ice Ball December11, 2000 in Beverly Hills, CA. The event raised funds for the Revlon-UCLA Women”s Cancer Research Program. (Photo by Newsmakers)
Somers was a major part of that show as she played Krissy…the sweet but not-so-bright roommate of Jack (John Ritter) and Janet (Joyce DeWitt). Krissy had the bubbly personality and fun demeanor and catapulted Somers into being an “It Girl” for a stretch of time in the ’70’s.
HOLLYWOOD – JANUARY 24: Actress Suzanne Somers poses at a ceremony honoring her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 24, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
And now that she’s gone…from the main players…only Janet is left. John Ritter died in 2003 surprisingly. He was hysterical as Jack Ritter and was the heart and soul of the show.
John Ritter at The Museum of Television and Radio’s annual Los Angeles gala to honor Ted Danson and Dick Wolf at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Ca. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
Don Knotts passed away in 2006 after an amazing career on TV (The Andy Griffith Show) and in the movies (The Ghost & Mr. Chicken). And as the second landlord, Mr. Furley, he was a scream.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JUNE 22: Actor Don Knotts attends the 29th Annual Vision Awards Gala benefiting Retinitis Pigmentosa International at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on June 22, 2002 in Beverly Hills, California. The vision awards pay tribute to pioneering luminaries in film, television, music, and technology. (Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Norman Fell died in 1998 after a very solid acting career. Fell played Mr. Roper, the original landlord on the show, who was always trying to kick Jack out of the apartment. Fell was also in the classic 1967 film The Graduate…where he plays a landlord who wants to kick Dustin Hoffman out of the apartment! Ha!
circa 1975: Studio headshot portrait of American actor Norman Fell (1924-1998), wearing a houndstooth blazer. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
OK, fine, before you all call me out…Richard Kline…who played the neighbor Larry…is still alive. But I don’t look at him as a main player…just a great supporting character! Don’t get me wrong…I love Larry! His antics at the Regal Beagle alone make him awesome (he’s just not a main character, imo).
American actors John Ritter (1948 – 2003) and Richard Kline share a laugh in a still from the television series, ‘Three’s Company’, circa 1970s. (Photo by ABC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
Nor am I including Krissy’s cousin Cindy or Terri the nurse or the restaurant owner…with all due respect. The OG’s are Janet, Jack, and Krissy. And Suzanne Somers will be missed.
(L-R) American actors Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter (1948 – 2003) and Suzanne Somers in a full-length promotional portrait for the television series, ‘Three’s Company’, 1979. (Photo by ABC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
