So Sad: Farrah Fawcett, 1970s Blonde Pinup Girl and ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Co-Star, Loses Battle to Cancer (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on June 25, 2009
Farrah Fawcett, in her famous 1970s poster
At age 62, actress Farrah Fawcett lost her battle to cancer earlier today.
When at the height of popularity on TV’s Charlie’s Angels, thousands of teens and women styled their hair just like Farrah. I was no different. It was loose and wavy and sexy and messy and had multiple shades of gold. No one on television looked like Farrah Fawcett, and she was the first crush for many boys. And her smile… she had such a radiant, non-stop smile.
It was a dizzying whirlwind for the young beauty born in Corpus Christi, Texas. The former shaving cream, hair-care, and toothpaste pitch girl become the “It Girl” nearly overnight.
Fawcett received the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Program, was seen smiling from countless magazine covers, had a huge international fan club, set a sales record of more than 8 million posters sold (many to sex-crazed teen boys), and was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe for her role on Charlie’s Angels. She was once quoted as saying, “The reason that the all-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think.”
Her huge popularity on the “beautiful female detective” TV show as Jill Munroe was her undoing as far as staying on the show. Fame took its cruel toll, with stalkers and hate mail and mobs of people wherever she went. Farrah saw that her drawing power contributed to the success of the show, so demanded a huge pay increase that was turned down (some sources say she didn’t ask for a pay increase, but just wanted to leave the show); then she wanted out of her contract, ultimately prompting a lawsuit by the producers against her; and many other unsavory, back-biting stuff that was pretty scandalous stuff in the 1970s. Lots of hard feelings and harsh accusations resulted. Not important now, though.
Fawcett had many ups and downs in her professional career and personal life. Her marriage to actor Lee Majors in 1973, with whom she had formed a business partnership with Fawcett-Majors Productions, ended in divorce in 1982. She lived with actor Ryan O’Neal for 17 years, and gave birth to his son Redmond in 1985. Reportedly, O’Neal’s daughter, actress Tatum O’Neal, disapproved of her father’s relationship with Fawcett.
One shining moment during her acting career was her remarkable, emotional performance about domestic abuse in the made-for-TV film The Burning Bed, for which she was nominated for several awards and received glowing reviews, the best of her career. Fawcett became actively involved in domestic abuse projects as a result. She participated in events such as the Humanitarian Awards in Media, anti-domestic violence panel discussions produced by Show Coalition, and served as a board member of the National Advisory Council for The National Domestic Violence Hot-line, a US organization benefiting the victims of domestic violence. She later became involved in many projects for cancer research.
Fawcett joined her former co-stars Angels Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith on the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards stage in 2006, not knowing it was for the last time. The feuds and anger from the past seemed to have been resolved, and the audience went wild when the three strode across the stage, holding hands:
In an unexpected, crowd-pleasing turn, Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith, the original Charlie’s Angels, appeared onstage, looking spectacular as they paid tribute to Spelling’s artistic gifts and, as Kate Jackson said, his “ability to sense chemistry.” Each of the three stars, in their individual ways, and with tears welling in their eyes, talked about Spelling the man, the leader, the star maker, the friend.
58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006: Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith
The final years were difficult for her. In early 2006, Fawcett was devastated when her mother died. They had been very close. Later that year, Fawcett was diagnosed with cancer and O’Neal, with whom she remained close in spite of their breakup, was diagnosed with leukemia. On February 2, 2007, her 60th birthday, it was revealed that she was cancer free. Sadly, the cancer returned.
Farrah Fawcett was a 1970s icon, a beautiful, intelligent woman with guts and determination and courage. She struggled valiantly, but lost her battle against cancer. Rest in peace, Farrah. You and your courage will not be forgotten.
2008 Interview: Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett Tribute Slide Show
The Dating Game, 1968: Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett: Clips of Her Appearance on 1960s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie”
Telly Savalas: Brief Overview of Farrah Fawcett, “Most Famous Face in America” (1978)
RIP, dear Farrah
Additional reading:
Indianapolis TV Examiner: Farrah Fawcett: Marilyn Monroe of the 70s
Queer Conservative: Farrah Fawcett: 1947-2009
Daniel J. Flynn, Big Hollywood: When Megastars Die, We Get Old
Survivor Blog: Farrah Fawcett Remembered
Time: Farrah Fawcett: The Golden Girl Who Didn’t Fade
A Whole Lot of Nothing: RIP Farrah Fawcett
Horiwood’s Blog: FARRAH FAWCETT TRIBUTES: THE CITY OF ANGELS MOURNS
Rickey.org: Ratings: SYTYCD beats Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett tributes
AmericaJR.com: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett Both Die on the Same Day
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[...] So Sad: Farrah Fawcett, 1970s Blonde Pinup Girl and 'Charlie's … [...]
Last Greeting to Farrah.
By Antonio Attinà , VIA MONTALTO N. 19 P.C. 89015 PALMI (R.C.) ITALY
Thank you Farrah to have rendered happy with your presence and your incandescent beauty my infancy and my adolescence; when you went away, I remained upset and without breath and it seemed I was dying.
Later, I understood that now you are happy where you are and that in much much time we will see again.
You ‘ll be always my Jill Munroe of Charlie’s Angels.
I WILL FORGET YOU NEVER!!!
GOOD TRAVEL ANGEL
Antonio
She is Home, with her maker.
What ever happened to Karen Valentine ??
I had her poster on the wall when young. I prefer brunettes.