Joanna Cassidy and Alan Hamel Describe Their 30-Year Reunion as “Miraculous”
Joanna Cassidy reconnected with Alan Hamel after nearly thirty years apart and described it as miraculous.
Riley Carter here, bringing you a casually cool take on how Hollywood veterans find love in unexpected ways.
Another day on the California coast, another Hollywood surprise.
At age 80, Academy Award nominee Joanna Cassidy admits she never expected to cross paths again with Alan Hamel, the 89-year-old Canadian entertainer best known as Suzanne Somers’ late husband. Their summer romance in Malibu has been unexpectedly tender. During an interview with People Magazine on Saturday, Cassidy said running into Hamel felt like fate. “It was sort of miraculous to run into Alan. I hadn’t even seen him in 30 years,” she told the outlet, adding that she’s thrilled they have a second chance.
Hamel echoed her sentiment, calling their reunion a true miracle. He recalled first meeting Cassidy in the late 1970s when she appeared on his Canadian talk show. A few years later they bumped into each other on the set of Suzanne Somers’ mini-series with Anthony Hopkins, but then life pulled them in separate directions. “We met over 50 years ago. Joanna was a guest on my show, and that was in the late ’70s. The next time I saw her, she was doing a major mini-series. Then I didn’t see her again until a few months ago,” he told People Magazine.
Step in Stephen Hamel, Alan’s son and unofficial matchmaker. After suggesting a meet-up at a screening, he had no idea the pair already had shared history. Photos from June show the couple rocking matching Malibu Beach Inn baseball caps during a relaxed lunch at Broad Street Oyster Company, hinting at easy chemistry. Hamel admitted to Page Six that even he doesn’t know exactly where this relationship is headed but admitted he’s grateful. Somers herself encouraged him not to mope after her death from breast cancer in 2023. “Live your life. We will see one another after you cross over,” she reportedly told him in her final days.
Beyond romance, both Cassidy and Hamel admire each other’s passions. Cassidy still keeps a rigorous gym routine, recalling a workout that left her legs literally shaking minutes before the interview. Having starred in the original Blade Runner, she’s eager for her next action role. “I want to be in another adventure movie where I can show those attributes,” she said. Hamel agreed she’s perfect for a female action hero part and joked she could handle her own stunts.
Hamel praised Cassidy’s decades-long dedication to her craft, her support for first responders, and her role as a mother and devoted cat guardian. She’s proven there is no Hollywood BS when it comes to her work ethic. As they look ahead, the pair is focused on making new memories and enjoying the perks of each new birthday.
It all feels like a classic Hollywood twist, equal parts nostalgic and fresh. If summer love in Malibu deserves a blockbuster tagline, theirs might be “Second Chances, Endless Adventures.”
Cool story, right? Keep an eye out for what’s next.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Page Six
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
