Suzanne Somers’s Longtime Friend, Barry Manilow, Says He Had No Idea How Sick She Was

Suzanne Somers, celebrated for her successful acting career as Chrissy Snow in the ’70s sitcom Three’s Company, also made a mark as a businesswoman. Beyond her entertainment achievements, she gained recognition for her advocacy in health and wellness, delving into this field after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. This experience inspired her, and she became an advocate for alternative medicine which favors bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Sadly, the former Playboy model passed away on October 15, 2023, just a day before her 77th birthday, at her residence in Palm Springs, California. In a recent development, Barry Manilow, a longtime friend of Somers, reflected on their decades-long companionship during an interview.

Barry Manilow speaks about his friendship with the late Suzanne Somers

During his appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Manilow fondly recollected moments spent with the late actress. He shared how Somers, with her culinary expertise, was eager to prepare meals for him whenever he visited. “She was just a great person,” he told the show host. “[She] tried to get me to eat, always. Always cooking for me — constantly cooking for me. Every time I went over to her house.”

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In a prior interview with People, the 80-year-old shared insights into his connection with Somers, shedding light on their remarkable friendship. “Suzanne and I were friends for decades. She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever. We shared triumphs and heartaches,” Manilow told the news outlet. “Her fame in so many fields overshadowed her real talent as one of our greatest comedic actors, a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one of the world’s best cooks. I will miss her dearly and hope that she is now out of pain and at peace.”

Barry Manilow says he was unaware of Suzanne Somers’s Illness

During the discussion with Barrymore, Manilow revealed that he had no prior knowledge of her illness despite sharing a close friendship with Somers. “She was a great — I didn’t know she was that ill,” the singer noted. “We were friends for like 35 years. Just a good, good person — good inside.”

He also expressed his thoughts regarding the late actress’s passing, stating that it had a profound and distressing impact on him. “That was a tragedy,” Manilow confessed. “That was a really sad moment for me.”