Los Angeles Times/1978 Publicity Photo
After a courageous battle with cancer, 1970s icon Farrah Fawcett died this morning at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. The actress was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, a year later it spread to her liver. A few weeks ago, a documentary of Fawcett’s personal battle with the disease called “Farrah’s Story” was broadcast on television.
Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 2, 1947. She began modeling as a college student. A 1970s pin-up poster of Fawcett in a red swimsuit has become a classic and made her a sex symbol. The actress became a star after appearing as Jill Munroe on the first year of the television series, “Charlie’s Angels” ( 1976) with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Fawcett sought more serious roles such as that of a battered wife in the TV movie, “The Burning Bed” (1984), which won her critical acclaim.
Fawcett was married to actor Lee Majors from 1973 to 1982. Her long time companion, actor Ryan O’Neal, was at her side when she died. O’Neal and Fawcett have a son, Redmond. Fawcett was 62.
