Dancing with the Stars showed its love for Suzanne Somers with two touching tributes following her death on Sunday.
The legendary actress – who starred in Three’s Company and Step By Step – has died aged 76 after a battle with breast cancer.
In Tuesday night’s episode, the former candidate was remembered with an emotional montage.
Footage of the star competing in the 2015 dance competition aired at the start of the show and just before the final commercial break.
The second tribute included heartfelt words from host Alfonso Ribeiro, who said: “Suzanne participated in Season 20 and she left a huge impression on everyone here, both in the ballroom and behind the scenes.”
Tributes: Dancing with the Stars showed its love for Suzanne Somers with two heartwarming tributes following her death on Sunday
Montage: After her death, DWTS honored the late actress and former contestant with an emotional montage on Tuesday night’s episode
Double tribute: Footage of the star’s entry into the dance competition aired at the start of the show and just before the final commercial break
“Our thoughts are with her friends and family,” it continued.
Suzanne’s dance partner from the show, Tony Dovolani echoed and shared the sentiment a day earlier Entertainment tonight The news of her death “really hit me like a blow.”
Tony added: “I put it in my diary to wish her a happy birthday as she’s turning 77 in a few days. When I found out it just blew me away because she was such a bright spot. “
“I remember Suzanne Somers with a smile on her face, and it saddens me deeply to know that she fought this cancer for so long,” he said.
“She was struggling with it then and tried to deal with it in every natural way. The fact that she was able to survive this long is a true testament to her dedication to health.”
The choreographer said Suzanne is always up for a challenge.
“As a partner it’s interesting because Dancing with the Stars is such a machine and you can be successful with anything else, but when you show up in the ballroom all kinds of things happen,” he advised.
“But she always came with a fresh step. She really wanted to learn. She was always respectful and wanted to be pushed hard. She had her frustrating moments, but never without a smile.’
This smile was apparently a sign of her general attitude to life.
Heartfelt words: The second tribute included heartfelt words from host Alfonso Ribeiro, who said: “Suzanne participated in Season 20 and she left a huge impression on everyone here, both in the ballroom and behind the scenes.”
Seasoned vet: Suzanne competed on season 20 of DWTS
“Positivity was a big part of her life. Be optimistic. She never acted like a victim. “She never used it as an excuse when we were working,” he said.
“I mean, she was so full of life and so full of positivity that you would never know she had breast cancer. And the interesting thing is that she truly believed with all her heart that positivity, optimism and looking to the future was the way to beat cancer. She battled this terrible disease for years. But honestly, she lived every moment to the fullest.”
In a separate statement to Extra, Tony reiterated her positive attitude, saying she was “a pleasure to be around.”
“Every time she came in, she had a little spring in her step. This is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life: the knowledge that I got to work with a special person like her.”
She did her best: Suzanne performed every dance with confidence during her time on the show
Partner call: Suzanne’s dance partner from the show, Dovolani, echoed this sentiment a day earlier
Tony said his former partner’s goal was to share her light with as many people as possible.
“Her purpose in life was to give people the opportunity to heal through nature and natural growth…Her legacy to me is her smile – her smile never left her face.”
After learning of Suzanne’s death, Tony shared a photo of them, captioned by DWTS: “Rip @suzannesomers what an honor to meet you #danceinheaven a beautiful person so saddened by this news.”
He also shared a video of the pair being splashed with whipped cream as they chatted with fans outside the studio.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET.
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Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
