LOS ANGELES (AP) — Farrah Fawcett, whose luxurious tresses and blinding smile helped redefine sex appeal in the 1970s as one of TV’s “Charlie’s Angels,” died Thursday after battling cancer. She was 62.
The pop icon, who in the 1980s set aside the fantasy girl image to tackle serious roles, died Thursday shortly before 9:30 a.m. PDT in a Santa Monica hospital, spokesman Paul Bloch said.
She burst on the scene in 1976 as one-third of the crime-fighting trio in TV’s “Charlie’s Angels.” A poster of her in a clingy swimsuit sold in the millions.
She left the show after one season but had a flop on the big screen with “Somebody Killed Her Husband.” She turned to more serious roles in the 1980s and 1990s, winning praise playing an abused wife in “The Burning Bed.’’
She had been diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006. As she underwent treatment, she enlisted the help of actor Ryan O’Neal, who had been her longtime companion and was the father of her son, Redmond, born in 1985.
This month, O’Neal said he asked Fawcett to marry him and she agreed. They would wed “as soon as she can say yes,” he said.
Her struggle with painful treatments and dispiriting setbacks was recorded in the television documentary “Farrah’s Story.’’ Fawcett sought cures in Germany as well as the United States, battling the disease with iron determination even as her body weakened.
From People: "She's gone. She now belongs to the ages," O'Neal tells PEOPLE. "She's now with he mother and sister and her God. I loved her with all my heart. I will miss her so very, very much. She was in and out of consciousness. I talked to her all through the night. I told her how very much I loved her. She's in a better place now." Added O'Neal: "She was with her team when she passed ... Her eyes were open, but she didn't say anything. But you could see in her eyes that she recognized us." O'Neal says they plan to honor Fawcett with a funeral service at the downtown Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles in the next few days."
From Us: "After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," O'Neal said in a statement to Usmagazine.com. "Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world." A forlorn O'Neal, wearing a Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelet, was spotted leaving the hospital Thursday, telling photographers, "She's gone."
From E!: "Best friend to Farrah Fawcett, Alana Stewart, calls the actress' death peaceful just moments after her passing. "I just lost my best friend," Stewart said."
From TMZ: "We've learned Ryan and Farrah did not marry during her final days. Alana Stewart, who has known Farrah for 30 years, said "she will always be there as that angel on the shoulder of everyone who loved her."
From Radaronline: "Mela Murphy, Farrah’s close friend and hairdresser, was in Farrah’s room at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., and told RadarOnline.com: “I’m so glad I was with her. She looked beautiful. She is beautiful and she has left a wonderful legacy. Mela was one of Farrah’s closest supporters during her long and courageous cancer battle. She told RadarOnline.com that she is overcome with grief and devastated that Farrah is no longer able to fight. “I can’t say anymore,” she told RadarOnline.com, choking back tears. “It fills me with so much emotion. But I am glad that she called me her friend and allowed me to be there with her.”
Quotes from People: Robert Duvall: "Farrah had an outstanding talent, better than most feature-film actresses that I've seen. She was great to work with and will be missed." Fawcett's former husband, Lee Majors: "She fought a tremendous battle against a terrible disease. She was an angel on earth and now an angel forever." Kate Jackson: "She was a selfless person who loved her family and friends with all her heart, and what a big heart it was. Farrah showed immense courage and grace throughout her illness and was an inspiration to those around her. When I think of Farrah I will remember her kindness, her cutting dry wit and, of course, her beautiful smile."
From Twitter: Paula Abdul: "What a wonderful, beautiful woman inside & out. Kind as can be, an amazing fighter who always kept hope in her heart..." Alyssa Milano: "R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett. You will be missed. And if you see Mr. Spelling in your new journey, tell him I miss him." Eliza Dushku: "farrah fawcett~ beautiful angel leaves this life... peace & light." Dave Navarro: "Sending prayers to the O'Neal family today... R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett" Lindsay Lohan: "R.I.P. Farrah my heart goes out to your family and friends."
If you're interested, Larry King "will be joined by Candy Spelling, Joan Dangerfield, Dick & Pat Van Patten, and others" tonight on CNN.
AP FILE PHOTO
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