Patrick Duffy Remembers ‘Dear and Deep’ Friendship with Suzanne Somers: ‘It Was Unbelievable’ (Exclusive)

Patrick Duffy is mourning the death of his close friend Suzanne Somers.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the actor reflected on the years of friendship, as well as what he will remember his leading lady from Step by step.

“Like everyone who knew her, I was stunned yesterday by the news that my dear and dear friend Suzanne had passed away,” began Duffy, 74. “In that brief moment, it was incredible. But she really passed. She has come through my life beautifully on this leg of her endless journey. My task now is to stay by the road as it continues.”

Suzanne Somers, Three’s Company and Step by step Actress, died at 76

Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy at the 2009 Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

He listed some of the things he will miss most when he remembers Somers, including “the phone calls, the e-mails, the visits, and the meals and the laughter.”

He continued: “But the dialogue between deep and thoughtful, silly and frivolous continues. My conversations with her will now take place exclusively through my daily Buddhist practice.”

Duffy added: “I’m not the only one who wishes I had one more face-to-face with her and [her husband] Alan, but if we’d had that meeting last Friday, I’d still be craving another one today. This is the painful beauty of our current human reality. I send as much strength and support as I can to Alan and [her son] Bruce and her family and to her I say; When the stone of your life fell into this pond, you made a real wave, my friend. Thank you.”

The life of Suzanne Somers in photos

Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers on Step by Step.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Somers and Duffy met while playing the parents of a blended family on ABC Step by step from 1991 to 1998.

In 2014, Duffy entertained the idea of ​​rebooting the series in modern times. “As a cast, we were approached about this possibility. Suzanne and I would love the opportunity to work together again. If the scenarios and circumstances were right, I’m sure something would happen,” he wrote in a Reddit AMA.

A year later, in 2021 Dallas The alum said he considers Somers his “best friend.”

“She is a mother above all. She is a caregiver,” he said Party tonight. “She’s just one of the best people. She is a favorite person. If I ever need anything, I know I can pick up the phone and say, ‘Suzanne, I really need help with this.’ It would be there.”

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The Three’s Company actress died Sunday morning surrounded by her closest family, her publicist told PEOPLE. She was 76 – although Somers would have turned 77 on Monday.

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Source: HIS Education