Patrick Duffy reveals special bond with late Suzanne Somers on milestone birthday

Patrick Duffy has paid a moving tribute to his late Step by Step co-star Suzanne Somers, revealing the special bond they shared both on and off screen.

The 77-year-old Dallas actor reflected on their friendship during an appearance at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, on Friday, October 16 2026, which would have been Suzanne's 80th birthday.

Suzanne, who played Patrick's wife Carol Foster on the popular family sitcom, died in October 2023 following a long battle with breast cancer.

Recalling their first meeting, Patrick explained that he had only recently left Dallas, where he'd spent years working alongside Larry Hagman, when he met his future co-star.

"I left Dallas, and two weeks later I went into the meeting to meet Suzanne Somers, and I looked at her, and I went, 'Oh my God, that's my new Larry Hagman,'" he joked.

Speaking in front of an audience of nostalgic television fans, he mixed affection with humor as he looked back on a working partnership that had become a cherished friendship.

The actor said Suzanne went on to become his "best friend" during their seven years working together, and that they developed the same effortless chemistry he'd enjoyed with Larry.

Patrick also shared some lighthearted memories from the Step by Step set, recalling how he and Suzanne liked to improvise during scenes involving their characters, Frank Lambert and Carol Foster.

The sitcom, which aired from 1991 to 1998, followed the newlyweds as they blended their families, each bringing three children into the marriage.

Although their fictional household was often chaotic, Patrick and Suzanne were determined to portray a couple whose romance remained strong despite the demands of parenting.

Some of Patrick's favourite moments involved Frank and Carol stealing time together in their bedroom, only to be interrupted by one of the children.

He recalled that the pair sometimes continued improvising even after the scripted dialogue had ended, joking that they were able to "play out our fantasies", although he stressed that everything remained "in good taste".

Their aim, he explained, was to show a marriage with more romance and spontaneity than audiences might have expected from a traditional family sitcom.

The on-screen chemistry translated into a lasting real-life friendship, with Patrick and Suzanne remaining close long after the series ended.

Suzanne died on October 15, 2023, just one day before her 77th birthday, at her home in Palm Springs, California. She was surrounded by loved ones, including her husband, Alan Hamel, and son, Bruce.

The actress had first been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and had spoken publicly about living with the disease over the years.

Before Step by Step, Suzanne became a household name playing Chrissy Snow on Three's Company, which debuted in 1977. She later built a successful career as an author, businesswoman and fitness entrepreneur, famously promoting the ThighMaster.

Suzanne and Alan married in 1977 and were together for 46 years until her death.

Three years on, Patrick's memories offer a touching reminder that while he and Suzanne played husband and wife on television, their close friendship endured long after the cameras stopped rolling.suzanne