Suzanne Somers Celebrated 55 Years of Love with Husband Who Wrote Her a Poem the Night before She Di

July 2024 · 5 minute read

After many years in Hollywood and experiencing significant success in all her roles, Suzanne Somers also had an enormously successful personal life, which saw her through happy and sad moments.

The actress was married for 55 years and built a beautiful family with the love of her life. The couple even welcomed grandchildren and couldn't have been happier.

Somers once shared a photo of her and her husband, Alan Hamel, on Instagram. She captioned the post by saying that they were smiling 55 years ago when they met and were still smiling that day.

The photo showed her and Hamel many years ago when they first met. The pair smiled at the camera as Hamel draped his arm around Somers' shoulders, and she held his hand. The other side of the photo replicated the pose.

The couple was married for over four decades, and Somers opened up about their relationship in 2020. She revealed the couple was still blissfully happy with one another and looked forward to many more years together.

Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel at the 15th Annual National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Convention on March 4, 1978, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

Somers gushed that her relationship with her husband was "amazing." Since their children had grown up and moved on, she and Hamel had fun being empty-nesters. "It's just us," she said.

Talking about how they have kept their relationship going for so many years, Somers said the key was giving your partner attention as often as possible. She shared:

"I think you get into relationships because you want attention. We give each other a lot of attention all the time. I compliment him all day long."

Somers admitted that being attentive to her partner and giving compliments whenever possible helped her marriage. She also acknowledged a few other things that helped them come so far.

Somers on How They Keep Their Love Alive

Somers often talked about her relationship with her husband because it was one of the most successful in Hollywood. She had a few pearls of wisdom whenever asked what kept her and Hamel together through the years.

Suzanne Somers and husband Alan Hamel arrive at the 2018 Carousel Of Hope Ball at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 6, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

First, she said you must continually date your partner, even after you have married and had children. She also mentioned not scrutinizing everything your partner does and letting the small stuff go rather than fighting over it.

Although Somers and Hamel were blissfully happy in later years, she admitted that they fought often in the first ten years of their relationship and thought about breaking up before they figured everything out.

Somers offered advice for couples facing unexpected challenges in their relationship. She advised:

"...remember the early days of the relationship when everything was love and respect, sexy and very hopeful."

The actress shared that she and her husband were still romantic with one another four decades later, and she still found him extremely attractive. She also shared that they did not fight or have "moody days" but expressed happiness every chance they got.

Somers and Hamel Were Happy Grandparents

Although Somers and Hamel's children have grown up and moved on, they have brought grandchildren into the family. Hamel and Somers were grandparents to six grandchildren from their blended family.

Talking about what she and Hamel most enjoyed about becoming grandparents to all of the children in the family, biological or otherwise, Somers gushed:

"You get to fall in love all over again."

Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel at the Hollywood Walk of Fame as Somers was honored with a star | Source: Getty Images

She was also grateful that the grandchildren did not care whether their family was blended and simply loved everyone for who they were. The actress said children do not know who is biologically related and who isn't because it doesn't matter to them, which she loves.

Somers' Health Struggles

Somers sadly passed away peacefully in her home on October 15, 2023. She was surrounded by her loved ones, who had gathered to celebrate her October 16 birthday. Her death came after she struggled with cancer for over two decades.

Somers was first diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago and suffered skin cancer. In July this year, her husband revealed that she was stepping back from work after recently having fought cancer again.

Suzanne Somers in "Hollywood Wives" in 1985 | Source: Getty Images

The actress passed away in the home that she and Hamel shared for many years. Instead of celebrating her birthday, Somers' family said they were going to celebrate her life. They also thanked fans for the outpouring of love and support they were receiving.

Hamel and Somers, who were madly in love until her death, shared a sweet moment the day before she died. Somers' publicist shared that Hamel had decided to give his wife a letter a day early. Enclosed in the letter was a poem that Hamel had written for Somers. Hamel wrote the poem in all caps and talked about what love was to him and how he loved Somers. He wrote:

"55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS. EVEN THAT DOESN'T DO IT. EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 O’CLOCK AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE WE SLEEP DOESN'T DO IT."

Suzanne Somers on "Extra" at Burbank Studios on February 19, 2020 | Source: Getty Images

He continued that no words, actions, promises, or declarations could describe his feelings. So he would call it "US," as they were unique, magical, wonderful, and indescribable.

Somers' publicist said that Somers read the letter as soon as Hamel presented it to her and then went to sleep happily that night before passing away in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning. Rest in peace to a Hollywood icon.

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