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Remembering Farrah Fawcett: 1947-2009
Farrah Fawcett died Thursday, June 25, after a long and grueling battle with anal cancer, which was diagnosed in 2006. She was 62.
She was an icon, one of the first and probably the most striking angel in Charlie’s crew; her orange tank suit poster a de rigeur decoration in boys’ rooms across the planet — the hair, the teeth, the unusual first name and hyphenated last name (when she was married to Lee Majors), the crazy Letterman appearance and the impressive acting chops displayed in such television fare as “The Burning Bed” and “Small Sacrifices.”
Remembering Farrah is easy; forgetting her impossible. Here are some highlights:
The Wella Balsam ads: Farrah had been in myriad campaigns, but this shampoo ad is credited for starting the ball really rolling, and it didn’t take long for the Texas-born beauty to catch the attention of a poster company, which lead to …
THE poster. It wasn’t overtly sexy, but it was all-American hotness at its best. It caught on and sold well — an unparalleled 12 million copies. Enough said.
”Charlie’s Angels”: Farrah played Jill Munroe on this campy detective show that debuted in September 1976, around the same time the poster was released. Believe it or not, though “Charlie’s Angels” was a huge hit, Farrah only stayed a year.
“Farrah Hair”: Long, layered, blond and breezy, this was the style to have. It always looked better on her, though.
1982’s “Extremities”: Farrah starred in this off-Broadway production, which became a 1986 film, as a rape victim who turns the tables on her rapist. She was nominated for a Golden Globe award for the film version.
1984’s “The Burning Bed”: Her role as a battered wife earned Farrah the first of three Emmy nominations, and proved she was serious about — and pretty good at — acting. The television movie was a pioneer in the medium’s effort to draw attention to social issues, running a nationwide toll-free number that offered assistance to victims of domestic abuse.
Playboy: Farrah initially rejected all efforts to pose or appear nude, but changed her mind: Her December 1995 Playboy pictorial was the magazine’s best-selling issue of the decade. She did it again in July 1997, in honor of her 50th birthday (she was born Feb. 2, 1947). She also produced a video for Playboy in which she painted her naked body and rolled it on a canvas of chiffon; it wasn’t her first foray into art — she studied sculpture at the University of Texas and collaborated with Keith Edmier, scoring an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2002.
David Letterman: In June 1997, Farrah appeared on the late-night talk show acting distracted and strange. She later explained she was just joking around, but her bizarre behavior became joke fodder for quite some time.
Men: Farrah was married to Lee Majors (“The Six Million Dollar Man) from 1973 to 1982, though they separated in 1979). In 1980, she became involved with Ryan O’Neal. They never married, but have been together on and off ever since; their son, Redmond, was born in 1985. In 1998, during an off-period with Ryan, Farrah was beaten by her then-boyfriend, moviemaker James Orr, after she took several swings at his car with a baseball bat; Orr was prosecuted and convicted. Farrah’s son Redmond has a long history of drug abuse and problems with the law; both Ryan and Redmond were arrested in September 2008 when methamphetamine was found in the house they shared. Ryan pleaded guilty in January 2008, and was sentenced to an 18-month rehab program. Redmond was also sentenced to rehab (after pleading no contest), only to be arrested in first on a drunken driving charge and later on a felony drug possession charge, for which he was imprisoned. In April, Redmond was released for a thee-hour visit to his ailing mother; in early May 2009, he was given a last chance at rehab, which is where he remains.
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Comments
By Julie
June 25, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
My older brother had her poster on the wall of his room back in the 70’s. I remember looking at her and wishing I had hair as full and gorgeous as hers.By Bill
June 25, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this
There will never be another Farrah. She’ll be sadly missed. A true icon and symbol of a decade.By gloria bowman
June 25, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this
i have admired this lady from the beginning and feel as though ive lost a freind. farrah made you feel like you actually knew her. i have been constantly praying for her since her illness. her smile will never be forgotten i know it will always remain in my heart. God bless you Farrah and my blessings to ryan and redmond for their most dramatic loss. iknow im not a movie star but my pain is just as sincere and sad as if we knew each other on a personal level.the heavens are smiling at your beautiful face and loving grace. \By jennifer
June 25, 2009 7:17 PM | Link to this
rest in peace and we all should pray for her family. SadBy Bob
June 26, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
Farrah definately made an impact on the entertainment world. She developed from a beauty queen to an accomplished actress. Remember, in the 70’s & 80’s, there was no internet! All guys my age had her poster and I remember buying mine from Long’s Drug Store! I think it’s an absolute shame to have the media overshadow Farrah’s death & fight with cancer by a know freak and child molester.