The End of an Era: Hollywood icon Piper Laurie and TV star Suzanne Somers pass away
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It was a sad weekend with the news of the passing of two notable actresses: Icon Piper Laurie (aged 91) and television star Suzanne Somers (aged 76).
Piper's manager, Marion Rosenberg, announced that Piper passed away in her home in Los Angeles last October 14, succumbing to old age.
Speaking of the former critically-acclaimed star, Marion said she was 'a superb talent and a wonderful human being.'
Born Rosetta Jacobs in 1932, the actress arrived in Hollywood as a young 17-year-old and quickly took the new name she was given, which later became her theatre and film name—Piper Laurie.
The young star scored some major roles alongside actors of the day like Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson, and Tony Curtis, and even after straying away from the industry mid-career, Piper was blessed enough to have a resurgence of sorts towards the end.
The 1951 movie Louisa marked Piper's debut. Playing as Ronald Reagan's daughter earned her a spot on Hollywood’s radar. She then appeared in a string of films and even got to star with Francis the talking mule in the 1951 film Francis Goes to the Races.
Frustrated by the continuous offers of mediocre roles, Piper walked away from her acting career in 1955, dissatisfied and vowing to return only when she could get a decent part. She moved to New York, where she found her desired roles in theatre and television.
She received Emmy nominations for her performances in Days of Wine and Roses, The Deaf Heart and The Road That Led After—roles that eventually led her back to the world of film acting. In 1961, she returned as Paul Newman’s troubled girlfriend in The Hustler.
You can watch her performance in The Hustler here:
The role earned Piper an Oscar nomination, followed by another two—1976's Carrie and 1986's romantic drama Children of a Lesser God.
Her stellar performance as Catherine Martell in David Lynch's infamous 90s thriller Twin Peaks earned her great plaudits as well.
Apart from being talented and dedicated to her craft, Piper was also an avid painter and baker. She shared her tasty recipes on the pages of The New York Times.
In 1990, Piper spoke of pursuing a life that felt meaningful to her and said she never regretted leaving the industry for a while.
'My life was full,' she said in 1990. 'I always liked using my hands, and I always painted.'
In similar news, Suzanne Somers, the actress known for her memorable roles in Three's Company and Step by Step, died peacefully at the age of 76, just one day before her 77th birthday.
Somers passed away at home surrounded by family after battling cancer on and off for over two decades.
An iconic presence on screen from the 1970s through the 1990s, Somers first endeared herself to audiences as the bubbly, blonde Chrissy Snow on Three's Company. She became one of the era's most recognisable stars with her flair for comedy and undeniable charm.
She later found success again playing the matriarch Carol Foster Lambert on the 90s sitcom Step by Step.
But behind the scenes, Somers faced numerous health struggles. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. As her publicist, R. Couri Hay, shared, 'Suzanne survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.'
While cancer attempted to slow her down, Suzanne never stopped pursuing her passions. She had her own television show called The Suzanne Show in 2012 and performed in Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
In July, Suzanne talked about her health struggle: ‘I do my best not to let this insidious disease control me.’
She launched multiple successful businesses and published over five books about health, her life, and poetry.
Suzanne Somers will be remembered for her joyful spirit. She leaves behind her husband, Alan Hamel, her son Bruce Somers Jr, her stepchildren, and her grandchildren.
Couri Hay added: ‘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.’
You can watch Suzanne’s performance in the show Step by Step:
With the passing of these stars, the lights on the entertainment industry dim just a little more. But Piper Laurie and Suzanne Somers’ legacies will continue inspiring actresses for generations to come. May their souls rest in peace.
Piper's manager, Marion Rosenberg, announced that Piper passed away in her home in Los Angeles last October 14, succumbing to old age.
Speaking of the former critically-acclaimed star, Marion said she was 'a superb talent and a wonderful human being.'
Piper Laurie passed away last October 14 due to old age. Credit: Old Hollywood/X (Twitter)
Born Rosetta Jacobs in 1932, the actress arrived in Hollywood as a young 17-year-old and quickly took the new name she was given, which later became her theatre and film name—Piper Laurie.
The young star scored some major roles alongside actors of the day like Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson, and Tony Curtis, and even after straying away from the industry mid-career, Piper was blessed enough to have a resurgence of sorts towards the end.
The 1951 movie Louisa marked Piper's debut. Playing as Ronald Reagan's daughter earned her a spot on Hollywood’s radar. She then appeared in a string of films and even got to star with Francis the talking mule in the 1951 film Francis Goes to the Races.
Frustrated by the continuous offers of mediocre roles, Piper walked away from her acting career in 1955, dissatisfied and vowing to return only when she could get a decent part. She moved to New York, where she found her desired roles in theatre and television.
She received Emmy nominations for her performances in Days of Wine and Roses, The Deaf Heart and The Road That Led After—roles that eventually led her back to the world of film acting. In 1961, she returned as Paul Newman’s troubled girlfriend in The Hustler.
You can watch her performance in The Hustler here:
The role earned Piper an Oscar nomination, followed by another two—1976's Carrie and 1986's romantic drama Children of a Lesser God.
Her stellar performance as Catherine Martell in David Lynch's infamous 90s thriller Twin Peaks earned her great plaudits as well.
Apart from being talented and dedicated to her craft, Piper was also an avid painter and baker. She shared her tasty recipes on the pages of The New York Times.
Piper received an Oscar nomination for playing Margaret White in the horror film Carrie. Credit: ArrowFilmsVideo/X (Twitter)
In 1990, Piper spoke of pursuing a life that felt meaningful to her and said she never regretted leaving the industry for a while.
'My life was full,' she said in 1990. 'I always liked using my hands, and I always painted.'
In similar news, Suzanne Somers, the actress known for her memorable roles in Three's Company and Step by Step, died peacefully at the age of 76, just one day before her 77th birthday.
Somers passed away at home surrounded by family after battling cancer on and off for over two decades.
Suzanne Somers passed away last October 15 after a long battle with cancer. Credit: John Tesh/Facebook
An iconic presence on screen from the 1970s through the 1990s, Somers first endeared herself to audiences as the bubbly, blonde Chrissy Snow on Three's Company. She became one of the era's most recognisable stars with her flair for comedy and undeniable charm.
She later found success again playing the matriarch Carol Foster Lambert on the 90s sitcom Step by Step.
But behind the scenes, Somers faced numerous health struggles. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. As her publicist, R. Couri Hay, shared, 'Suzanne survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years.'
While cancer attempted to slow her down, Suzanne never stopped pursuing her passions. She had her own television show called The Suzanne Show in 2012 and performed in Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
In July, Suzanne talked about her health struggle: ‘I do my best not to let this insidious disease control me.’
She launched multiple successful businesses and published over five books about health, her life, and poetry.
Suzanne Somers will be remembered for her joyful spirit. She leaves behind her husband, Alan Hamel, her son Bruce Somers Jr, her stepchildren, and her grandchildren.
Couri Hay added: ‘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.’
You can watch Suzanne’s performance in the show Step by Step:
With the passing of these stars, the lights on the entertainment industry dim just a little more. But Piper Laurie and Suzanne Somers’ legacies will continue inspiring actresses for generations to come. May their souls rest in peace.
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