Alan Hamel Biography Information
Alan Hamel, born on June 30, 1936, is a Canadian entertainer, producer, and television host. He hails from Toronto and has a Jewish heritage. In 1954, he enrolled in the television arts program at Ryerson Institute of Technology but did not complete his studies. Hamel co-hosted the Canadian children’s TV series Razzle Dazzle from 1961 to 1964, which featured the character of a talking turtle named Howard.
During the late 1960s, he hosted two syndicated game shows that aired on various television stations, including all ABC-owned and operated ones: Wedding Party in 1968 and Anniversary Game in 1969. It was through Anniversary Game that he first crossed paths with Suzanne Somers, whom he later married in 1977.
In the late 1970s, Hamel hosted The Alan Hamel Show, a well-received daytime talk show on CTV, earning him recognition as “Canada’s leading TV talk show host” by People magazine. During that period, he briefly hosted the People television series on CBS in 1978, although the show faced challenges.
He stepped down as the host in 1980, with fellow Canadian Alan Thicke taking over and the show being renamed The Alan Thicke Show. Subsequently, Don Harron continued the franchise with his own eponymous talk show airing in the same time slot.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hamel worked as a commercial spokesperson for American Stores, a nationwide supermarket chain. He specifically appeared in advertisements for Alpha Beta stores in the western United States and occasionally featured in spots for Acme Markets in the northeastern United States.
Hamel transitioned into a producer, often collaborating on projects involving his wife, Suzanne Somers. He occasionally took on acting roles, including appearances on shows featuring Somers.
Alan Hamel Health
His health is okay and he is well.
Alan Hamel Age | Alan Hamel Date of Birth
He was born on June 30, 1936. Hamel was born in Toronto of Jewish descent. He is 87 years old as of 2023.
Alan Hamel Suzanne Somers | Alan Hamel Family | Alan Hamel Wife
Hamel has two children, a son Stephen, and a daughter Leslie, from his first marriage. He encountered his second spouse, the actress and writer Suzanne Somers, who was a decade younger than him when she was a prize model on The Anniversary Game, a game show that he hosted. Hamel and Somers cohabited for approximately a decade before eventually tying the knot.
Their wedding ceremony was officiated by both a rabbi and a Catholic priest. Hamel assumed the role of stepfather to Bruce Somers, Jr., who was Suzanne Somers’ son from a previous marriage when she was in her teenage years. Tragically, Suzanne Somers passed away on October 15, 2023, on the eve of her 77th birthday.
Alan Hamel First Marriage | Alan Hamel First Wife
He was previously married to Marilyn Hamel before he met Suzanne Somers.
Alan Hamel Suzanne Somers Net Worth
They have a combined net worth of over $100 million.
Alan Hamel Movies
- 1960: Midnight Zone (CBC)
- 1961: Junior Roundup – Host
- 1961–64: Razzle Dazzle (CBC Television)
- 1962: A Summer Night – Host
- 1963: Nightcap (TV series)
- 1965: Vacation Time – Co-host
- 1968: Wedding Party (ABC/syndicated)
- 1969: Anniversary Game (ABC/syndicated)
- 1971–72: Mantrap – Host
- 1972–73: Alan Hamel’s Comedy Bag (CBC)
- 1976–80: The Alan Hamel Show (CTV)[8]
- 1977: Tattletales (CBS)
- 1977: Lou Grant in Scoop as Councilman Garbers
- 1977: The Last Hurrah (TV movie) as George Sherrard
- 1978: All in the Family in The Commercial as Ricky Buffano
- 1979: Look Magazine Gala Party (TV movie)
- 1988: She’s the Sheriff in All Alone (1988) as Horton
Alan Hamel Love Letter | Alan Hamel Poem
Written in all caps, the poem reads:
“LOVE I USE IT EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I USE IT AT THE END OF EMAILS TO MY LOVING FAMILY. I EVEN USE IT IN EMAILS TO CLOSE FRIENDS. I USE IT WHEN I’M LEAVING THE HOUSE.”
“THERE’S LOVE, THEN LOVE YOU AND I LOVE YOU!! THEREIN LIES SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE USE LOVE. SOMETIMES I FEEL OBLIGED TO USE LOVE, RESPONDING TO SOMEONE WHO SIGNED LOVE IN THEIR EMAIL, WHEN I’M UNCOMFORTABLE USING LOVE BUT I USE IT ANYWAY.”
“I ALSO USE LOVE TO DESCRIBE A GREAT MEAL. I USE IT TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT A SHOW ON NETFLIX. I OFTEN USE LOVE REFERRING TO MY HOME, MY CAT GLORIA, TO THINGS GLORIA DOES, TO THE TASTE OF A CANTALOUPE I GREW IN MY GARDEN. I LOVE THE TASTE OF A FRESHLY HARVESTED ORGANIC ROYAL JUMBO MEDJOOL DATE. I LOVE BITING A FIG OFF THE TREE. I LOVE WATCHING TWO GIANT BLACKBIRDS WHO LIVE NEARBY SWOOPING BY MY WINDOW IN A POWER DIVE. MY DAILY LIFE ENCOMPASSES THINGS AND PEOPLE I LOVE AND THINGS AND PEOPLE I AM INDIFFERENT TO.”
“I COULD GO ON AD INFINITUM, BUT YOU GET IT. WHAT BRAND OF LOVE DO I FEEL FOR MY WIFE SUZANNE? CAN I FIND IT IN ANY OF THE ABOVE? A RESOUNDING NO!!!! THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.”
“THE CLOSEST VERSION IN WORDS ISN’T EVEN CLOSE. IT’S NOT EVEN A FRACTION OF A FRACTION OF A FRACTION. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE DOES NOT DO IT. I’LL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU DOESN’T DO IT. I WEEP WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOU. FEELINGS… THAT’S GETTING CLOSE, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY.”
“55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS,” he shared. “EVEN THAT DOESN’T DO IT. EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 O’CLOCK AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE WE SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT. STARING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE WHILE YOU SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT.”
“I’M BACK TO FEELINGS. THERE ARE NO WORDS. THERE ARE NO ACTIONS. NO PROMISES. NO DECLARATIONS. EVEN THE GREEN SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD. SO I WILL CALL IT, ‘US’, UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US.’”
