It’s been two months since we reported that Suzanne Somers‘ widower Alan Hamel had found love again with the Three’s Company actress’s former co-star Joanna Cassidy. Over the weekend, we reported that Hamel, 89, had confirmed that he and Cassidy, 80, are still going strong.
Now, insiders are speaking out to claim that Somers’ loved ones have been left shocked and appalled by Hamel moving on with Cassidy. Indeed, they seem to view Hamel finding love with one of Somers’ co-stars less than two years after her death as being the ultimate betrayal.
‘It’s A Gut Punch’
“This isn’t just moving on — it’s a gut punch,” said one family friend.
“Alan and Suzanne were soulmates. They had plans — right down to being buried side by side,” the source continued. “Now people are asking, will there need to be room for a third person in the grave?”
Somers and Cassidy starred together in the 1985 miniseries Hollywood Wives. The official log-line for the miniseries describes it as being “a three-part, six-hour adaptation of Jackie Collins’ book about a group of very wealthy, attractive, snobbish women who are caught up in the low life and high society of Hollywood.”
On top of that, Somers and Cassidy were part of the same tight-knit 1980s Hollywood scene. This has made Hamel’s quick romantic pivot to Cassidy even more difficult for Somers’ loved ones to stomach.
“He once said he couldn’t bear to be apart from Suzanne for more than an hour,” the insider concluded. “Now he’s cozying up to someone Suzanne knew personally. It’s disrespectful!”
Hamel Moves On With Cassidy After Somers’ Death
Somers passed away in October of 2023 one day before her 77th birthday. This came after a 23 year battle with breast cancer. Somers and Hamel had been together for 55 years and married for 46 years at the time of her death.
Hamel happened to run into Cassidy in the months after Somers’ death. They quickly hit it off and began dating.
“I know a lot of people and I have a lot of wonderful friends, but I’ve never gone out of my way to connect with people,” Hamel told People Magazine. “It just happened naturally.”
“I’m blessed. I’m grateful for that. And I’m grateful for the relationship that I have with Joanna. It’s very special,” he continued. “And she has given kudos all her life to everybody around her other than herself, which is very selfless. I can’t do that. I’m not built that way, but I admire it…We have good times together.”
Somers’ Alleged Final Wish
Hamel has also claimed that it was Somers’ final wish that he find love again after her passing.
“When we knew the end was near, she said to me, ‘Once I’m gone, I don’t want you to mope around,’” Hamel told Fox News. “‘I want you to live your life.’ I told her OK. But then she looked at me and said, ‘I’m serious. I don’t want you to mope around.’ Again, I said OK.”
According to Somers’ loved ones, however, perhaps she didn’t envision Hamel romancing one of her former co-stars when she made this final wish.
This is clearly a very complicated situation for everyone involved. Only time will tell if Hamel and Cassidy’s relationship ends up lasting!