Who is Joanna Cassidy? Suzanne Somers’ widower spotted with former Hollywood Wives co-star

Alan Hamel was recently spotted in Malibu walking arm in arm with actress and his former Hollywood Wives co-star Joanna Cassidy, leading to some speculation of a new chapter in his life. Hamel, who was the longtime husband of the late actress Suzanne Somers, seems to be finding company once again after nearly two years following Somers’ death.

Hamel and Cassidy have not confirmed their relationship, but the sighting has put the duo in the spotlight and has renewed people’s interest in Cassidy’s family history and legacy as one of Hollywood’s veteran figures.

Joanna Cassidy, 79, is an actress with a large body of work in both film and television. According to IMDb, Cassidy was born August 2, 1945, in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and grew up in a creatively induced environment, with several artists in her family.

Initially interested in visual arts, she took a course in painting and sculpture before switching to art at Syracuse University. She married her first husband, Dr. Kennard C. Kobrin, in 1964, and started modeling to help support their household.

After their move to San Francisco and divorce a decade later, Cassidy supposedly got into acting. She moved to Los Angeles and gradually forged a career out of a number of film roles in movies including Bullitt (1968) and The Outfit (1973), before supporting roles in films like The Bank Shot and Blade Runner.

A look into Joanna Cassidy's television credits and her connection to Suzanne Somers

Cassidy is equally accomplished on television. She has guest-starred on popular series including Dallas, Trapper John, M.D., Starsky and Hutch, and Falcon Crest (IMDb). Her breakthrough TV role arrived in the early 1980s with the sitcom Buffalo Bill, in which she appeared with Dabney Coleman. Her performance as Jo Jo White won her a Golden Globe Award.

In 1985, Joanna Cassidy was cast in the television miniseries Hollywood Wives, which also starred Suzanne Somers. The series was based on the novel by Jackie Collins (Daily Mail).

Joanna Cassidy portrayed Marilee Gray, and Somers was cast as Gina Germaine. The miniseries gave viewers a dramatized glimpse into the glamorous but tumultuous lives of Hollywood’s privileged women and showcased an all-star cast that included Candice Bergen, Angie Dickinson, and Anthony Hopkins.

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Flash forward to June 2025: Joanna Cassidy and Alan Hamel were spotted hanging out in Malibu, grabbing lunch and picking up some matching caps at a beachside hotel. According to the Daily Mail, it was believed to be Hamel’s first public sighting with a possible new love interest since Somers died in October 2023 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Apart from acting, Cassidy also still works in the arts, painting and sculpting. She is also a passionate animal rights activist and loves to play golf and collect antiques. Whether or not Cassidy and Hamel are romantically connected or if it’s based on friendship and shared history, everything remains to be seen.

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