Alan Hamel is a Canadian entertainer, producer, and television host who has been in the show business for over six decades. He is best known for his long-running talk show The Alan Hamel Show, his game shows Wedding Party and Anniversary Game, and his marriage to the late actress and author Suzanne Somers.

Hamel was born on June 30, 1936, in Toronto, Ontario, to Jewish parents. He attended the television arts program at Ryerson Institute of Technology in 1954, but did not graduate. He began his career as a co-host of the children’s television series Razzle Dazzle, which featured a talking turtle named Howard. He also hosted various other shows, such as Junior Roundup, A Summer Night, Nightcap, and Mantrap.

In 1968, he hosted Wedding Party, a syndicated game show that aired on ABC and other stations. The show featured newlywed couples competing for prizes. The following year, he hosted Anniversary Game, another syndicated game show that featured married couples celebrating their anniversaries. It was on this show that he met Suzanne Somers, who was a prize model at the time. They had a daring first date and fell in love.

Somers was ten years younger than Hamel and had a son from a previous marriage. They lived together for about ten years before tying the knot in 1977. They had a dual-faith ceremony officiated by a rabbi and a Catholic priest. Hamel became the stepfather to Somers’ son, Bruce Jr., who later became a successful ad agency founder. Hamel also had two children from his first marriage to Marilyn Shapiro, whom he divorced in 1971. His son Stephen is a screenwriter and his daughter Leslie is an actress.

In the late 1970s, Hamel hosted The Alan Hamel Show, a popular daytime talk show on CTV. He interviewed celebrities, politicians, and other personalities on various topics. He also hosted People, a short-lived television series on CBS in 1978. He was considered “Canada’s leading TV talk show host” by People magazine.

Hamel eventually became a producer, often working on projects involving his wife. He produced Somers’ sitcoms She’s the Sheriff and Step by Step, as well as her specials and infomercials. He also acted occasionally, appearing on some of Somers’ shows and movies. He supported Somers in her battle with breast cancer since her diagnosis in 2000.

Hamel and Somers had a strong and lasting relationship that inspired many people. They were known for their adventurous spirit, their humor, and their affection for each other. They often shared their love story and their secrets to a happy marriage in interviews and books. They also posted videos of themselves on social media, showing their playful and romantic side.

Somers passed away on October 15, 2023, on the eve of her 77th birthday. She had received a love letter from Hamel as an early birthday gift before her death. The letter expressed Hamel’s deep feelings for Somers and how he could not find the words to describe their bond. He called it “Us”, uniquely, magically, indescribably wonderful “Us”.

Hamel is survived by his children and grandchildren, as well as his fans and friends who admired him for his talent and charisma. He is remembered as a man who brought joy and entertainment to millions of people through his shows and as a man who loved his wife with all his heart.