Joyce DeWitt is remembering Suzanne Somers after her death.
DeWitt, who is best known for her role as Janet Wood on Three’s Company, shared a statement with PEOPLE on her hopes for Somers’ family.
“My heart goes out to Suzanne’s family,” DeWitt, 74, said. “They are a very close family — deeply connected and caring one to the other. I can only imagine how difficult this time is for all of them.”
She also reflected on Somers’ death, writing, “I’m sure Suzanne was greeted by Angels into the loving wisdom waiting for all of us on the other side, and I hope that will assist her family’s hearts in healing as they travel through this difficult time.”
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The women costarred opposite on Three’s Company before Somers’ breakout role on the show was cut short due to contract dispute.
In 1980, after four seasons of the series, Somers was fired from the show after demanding equal pay to John Ritter. ABC rejected her request for a pay raise from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, according to Somers: “The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’ They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”
The professional discord also led to the end of DeWitt’s friendship with Somers for decades. The women later reunited on Somers’ talk show Suzanne Somers Breaking Through. “It’s been over 30 years since Joyce and I have seen each other, so I have to admit I’m a little nervous,” Somers said, introducing the women’s reunion segment.
They discussed the financial disagreement. “In a group of serious actors, I probably pissed you all off,” Somers said, and both women laughed. “If I did, I’m really sorry. I just really needed money at the time.”
When asked why she appeared on the show, DeWitt replied, “It’s time. I think that you gave me the opportunity to make sure that I walk my talk for the last 30 odd years. Whenever something about Three’s Company comes up, I have relentlessly said that it is my opinion that the only reason Three’s Company is worth remembering is that it created an opportunity for all of us to laugh together, to celebrate joy.”
She concluded, “Even if we hadn’t seen each other in a very long time, you are giving me that opportunity to walk my talk.”
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Somers died Sunday morning at the age of 76 — though Monday would have been her 77th birthday. A statement from her publicist to PEOPLE confirmed she “passed away peacefully at home” after “she survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.”
The Step by Step actress is survived by her “blended family” — husband Alan Hamel, her son Bruce Somers Jr., 57, her stepchildren,Stephen and Leslie, and her six grandchildren.
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