Alan Hamel has a “wonderful” new relationship with actress Joanna Cassidy.

On October 15, 2023, his late wife, Suzanne Somers, died of breast cancer at the age of 76. Alan and the star of Three’s Company were married for 45 years, and he has found love again.

Alan confirmed to PEOPLE that he and Joanna were dating shortly after being photographed strolling arm-in-arm with the actress in Malibu, Calif., on June 23. Alan revealed that he’s known Joanna since his talk show days in the 1970s.

“I knew her professionally, mostly professionally,” he informed me. “I was very aware of her career, and her career blew me away, but I didn’t know her personally at all, and so it’s been a series of discovery on both our parts, and we really enjoy being together.”

Joanna has been acting for decades, appearing in films and television programs such as Blade Runner and Body of Proof, among others.

“I don’t know where the relationship is going,” Alan told me. “I simply know it’s amazing right now, and the fact is that it serves as the basis for a relationship. It should last a long time and be great.”

Here’s all you need to know about Alan Hamel and Joanna Cassidy’s relationship.

They first met while Joanna was a guest on Alan’s talk program.

Alan hosted The Alan Hamel Show, a Canadian daytime talk show that ran from 1976 until 1980. The show included interviews with several Hollywood celebrities, including Harrison Ford, Margot Kidder, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Alex Trebek.

Suzanne and Joanna were both guests. Alan and Joanna met again when she costarred with Suzanne in the 1985 television miniseries Hollywood Wives, which was based on Jackie Collins’ novel.

“She and Suzanne spent quite a bit of time together during the production of that miniseries, and I was there a lot, almost every day, and so we reconnected,” Alan told the newspaper.

She’s an award-winning actress.

Joanna starred in several significant films and television series before and during her collaboration with Suzanne and introduction to Alan.

In the 1980s, she starred in Under Fire and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, for which she received award nominations.

Around the same time, Joanna played Jo Jo White on the NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill, for which she received the 1894 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. In addition, she received an Emmy nomination.

She went on to feature in all five seasons of HBO’s Six Feet Under, garnering her a second Emmy nomination in 2006. Since then, she has appeared in programs such as Boston Legal and NCIS: New Orleans.

Alan and Joanna reconnected through his kid.

Alan’s adult son from his former marriage to Marilyn Hamel, Stephen Hamel, followed in his father’s footsteps and became an entertainment producer. Alan told PEOPLE that Stephen saw Joanna at a screening earlier this year and brought him up.

Stephen informed Joanna that she would get along with his father, unaware that they already knew each other.

“She said, ‘Who’s your dad?'”Stephen was unaware that I had a relationship with her dating back to the 1970s,” Alan told PEOPLE. “And when he stated that his father is Alan Hamel, she answered, ‘I know Alan. Of course, I would love to meet Alan.”

They have been dating for “several months.”

Following the screening, Stephen reunited Alan and Joanna, who have now been dating for “several months.”

“So that was the beginning,” Alan told PEOPLE, referring to his son’s encounter with Joanna. “We’ve dated a few times since then, and she’s wonderful… We have a lot in common, and we’ve had a fantastic experience dating, so that’s where we’re at.”

In a June 2025 interview with Page Six, Alan stated that he is “fortunate to have Joanna in my life.”

“Most guys would want to have a Joanna in their lives. I am not sure where this relationship is going,” he said. “But what I do know is that being in the cocktail hour of my life, I am blessed with a magnificent family—thanks to incredible Suzanne—a privileged life, and our business that we created 50 years ago.”

Joanna was previously married.

Joanna has been married once to Dr. Kennard C. Kobrin.

They married in 1964, while Joanna was in college at Syracuse University in New York. According to her official website, Kennard was a doctor in residency at the time, and her modeling employment “helped fund his internship.”

The couple subsequently relocated to San Francisco, where Kennard established a psychiatric practice and Joanna became a prominent model. They welcomed two children: Natalie and Daniel.

According to Parade, Joanna and Kennard were divorced in the 1970s. Joanna relocated to Los Angeles when their marriage dissolved and pursued a career as an actress.

Alan believes Suzanne would approve of his new relationship.

In her dying days, Alan remembers Suzanne telling him she didn’t want him to “mope around” after she died.

“I actually never heard the expression ‘mope around’ before,” he told PEOPLE. “I asked, ‘So you mean I shouldn’t sit at home and feel sorry for myself?’ She stated, “I want you to live your life.” You have a wonderful life. You have a wonderful family. You have wonderful buddies. “I want you to enjoy your life.

Alan explained why his late wife would approve of his new relationship. “She’d be delighted that I’m pleased. Absolutely, yes. “She wanted it,” he stated. “Our relationship was based on each of us making the other one happy.”

As for Joanna, Alan stated that “Suzanne really liked her, and Suzanne was also a great professional.” So the two of them got along well.