Farrah Fawcett  1947-2009 RIP

Farrah Fawcett: Farrah Fawcett, was a fresh faced woman from Corpus Christi, Texas. In the early 1960s, she was voted the "Beautiful Woman" by her high school colleagues. In the late 1960s, she had her first break in guest-starring roles in shows such as "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965), "The Flying Nun" (1967) and "The Partridge Family" (1970). Then, in 1968, she dated actor Lee Majors, and the couple were married on July 28, 1973. Shortly after, Majors starred in his series "The Six Million Dollar Man" (1974) and Farrah guest-starred in four episodes. As her career took off, she posed in her red bathing suit for a poster, and it sold a staggering 8,000,000 plus copies.

After the poster was released, producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg starred her in the Crime/Drama Megahit show "Charlie's Angels" (1976). Farrah received a paycheck for $10,000 an episode, and when it started to take off, Majors wanted her home by 6:30 pm to have dinner on the table. Farrah felt dissatisfied about both her contract and her paycheck. Then, in 1977, after the first season wrapped, she abruptly left the series. Shortly there after, the departure resulted in a lawsuit with the producers of the series. Finally, she agreed to return to the series in guest spots for six episodes: three in the 1978-79 season, and the other three in the 1979-80 season. In late 1979, Fawcett and Majors had separated, and, since there was no reconciliation in sight, they were divorced in 1980. Farrah dated 'Ryan O'Neal (I)' from 1980-1997. Then, in 1998, Farrah was severely injured by James Orr, after she had spurned his proposal of marriage.

Mini Biography
Farrah Fawcett is a true Hollywood success story. A native of Texas, she is the daughter of James Fawcett and Pauline Evans. She was a natural athlete, something that her father encouraged, and she attended a high school with a strong arts program. She attended University of Texas in Austin, graduating with a degree in Microbiology, but only wanted to be an actress. Winning a campus beauty contest got her noticed by an agent, who encouraged her to pursue acting. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles and her healthy, all-American blond beauty was immediately noticed. She quickly got roles in various television commercials for such products as Ultra-Brite toothpaste, and Wella Balsam shampoo, and also made appearances in some TV series. In 1968, she met actor Lee Majors, star of the popular TV series "The Big Valley" (1965), who became very taken with her and also used his own standing to promote her career. In 1970, she won her first major role in the film adaptation of the Gore Vidal novel Myra Breckinridge (1970). The shooting was very unpleasant, with much feuding on the set, and Farrah was embarrassed by the finished film, which was a major failure. But Farrah was undamaged and continued to win roles. In 1973, she and Majors married, and the following year, she won a recurring role in the crime series "Harry O" (1973). She had her first taste of major success when she won a supporting role in the science fiction film Logan's Run (1976). She came to the attention to the highly successful producer Aaron Spelling, who was impressed by her beauty and vivacious personality. That won her a role in the TV series "Charlie's Angels" (1976). She played a private investigator who works for a wealthy and mysterious businessman, along with two other glamorous female detectives, played by Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. The show immediately became the most popular series on television, earning record ratings and a huge audience. All three actresses became very popular, but Farrah became by far the best known. She was America's sweetheart, and found herself on every celebrity magazine and pursued by photographers and fans. While she enjoyed the success and got along well with her co-stars (both of whom were also of Southern origin), she found the material lightweight. Also, the long hours she worked were beginning to take a toll on her marriage to Majors, who found himself eclipsed by her popularity. So the following year, when the show was at its peak, she left to pursue a movie career. The move drew a negative reaction from many fans. As a result of that and some poor script choices, her career briefly hit a slow spot. In addition, she and Majors separated in 1979. She had starring roles in Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978), Sunburn (1979), and Saturn 3 (1980) (which she did a topless scene in), but all three failed financially. She appeared in the Burt Reynolds chase comedy The Cannonball Run (1981), which was successful financially in spite of bad reviews, but her career benefited very little and she and Majors were drifting apart. In 1981, she met 'Ryan O'Neal (I)', a friend of her husband's, and they began became friends and spent a great deal of time together. In 1982, she filed for divorce, which Majors readily agreed to. Soon, she and O'Neal were a couple and moved in together. She made a major comeback when she starred in the searing story of a battered wife in The Burning Bed (1984) (TV), based on a true story. It garnered a very large audience, and critics gave her the best reviews she had ever received for her heartfelt performance. She nominated for both an Emmy and Golden Globe and also became involved in helping organizations for battered women. The following year, she and O'Neal became the parents of a son, 'Redmond O'Neal (I)'. She tried to continue her momentum with a starring role in Extremities (1986), but while she garnered some positive reviews, the show was not well-received. She continued to seek out serious roles, appearing mainly on television. She scored success again in Small Sacrifices (1989) (TV), again based on a true crime. Portraying an unhappy woman who is so obsessed with the man she loves that she shoots her children to make herself available and disguises it as a carjacking, Farrah again won rave reviews and helped draw a large audience, and was nominated for an Emmy again. Shortly after-wards, she and O'Neal co-starred in "Good Sports" (1991), playing a couple who co-star in a sports news program, but O'Neil's performance was lambasted and only 9 episodes were aired. In 1995, she surprised her fans by posing for "Playboy" at the age of 48 ad it became the magazine's best-selling issue of that decade. Her relationship with O'Neal was deteriorating, however, and in 1997, they broke up. The breakup took a toll, and at that time she received very bad publicity when she appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) and gave a rambling interview, sparking rumors of drug use. That same year, however, she made another comeback in The Apostle (1997), playing the neglected wife of a Pentacostal preacher, played by Robert Duvall. Both stars were praised and the film became a surprise hit. She also began dating producer James Orr. But after she turned down his marriage proposal in 1998, he severely beat her and the scandal drew nationwide headlines. She immediately broke off all ties with him and he was charged and sentenced for assault. Embarrassed, she lowered her profile and her career lost momentum, but she continued to work in television and films. She and O'Neal also started seeing each other again, although it didn't last. In 2004, she received her third Emmy nomination for her performance in The Guardian (2003), but has experienced tragedy since then. In early 2006, she was devastated when her beloved mother died. Later that year, she was diagnosed with cancer and O'Neal, with whom she remains close in spite of their breakup, was diagnosed with leukemia. On February 2, 2007, her 60th birthday, it was revealed that she was now cancer free. She continues to be a successful and important part of the entertainment industry.

Spouse
Lee Majors (28 July 1973 - 16 February 1982) (divorced)

Trivia
1966-67: Attended the University of Texas at Austin.

Lived with Ryan O'Neal for 17 years. His daughter, actress Tatum O'Neal, disapproved of her father's relationship with Fawcett.

1/28/98: Her Farrah's boyfriend, writer-director-producer James Orr, was arrested for battery after attacking her for supposedly refusing his marriage proposal.

5/97: Actress Kristen Amber Citron accused her of stealing $72,000 worth of clothing and nude pictures from the home of former boyfriend James Orr.

2/97: Reported to be splitting from Ryan O'Neal after 17 years together.

1985: Son with Ryan O'Neal: Redmond O'Neal.

One of the original Charlie's Angels. She broke her contract for the last year of "Charlie's Angels" (1976) which resulted in a lawsuit. She was replaced by Cheryl Ladd.

Cousin of Jan Fawcett

1976: Listed (as Farrah Fawcett-Majors) as one of 12 "Promising New Actors of 1976" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 28.

7/25/80: She had a rather strange opening night in "Butterflies Are Free" at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre in Jupiter, FL. An obese lady in the front row of tables began yelling insults at her and making bird calls during the performance. Later this unidentified woman raised her dress and flashed the performers, causing co-star Dennis Christopher to take notice, although the character he was playing was a blind man. Nearby, a male patron began vomiting, and then yet another patron fainted. Incredibly, the reviews for Farrah's performance were positive.

Earned $750,000 for Silk Hope (1999) (TV).

Was offered the Goldie Hawn role in Foul Play (1978).

In the late 1970s she and her husband Lee Majors formed Fawcett-Majors Productions.

Despite sometimes bizarre behavior, including an incident on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993), that has led to claims she is a drug addict, she says that she never uses drugs. She claims she gets giggly when she is nervous. She went on Letterman unprepared, she said, and her nervousness affected her behavior.

Measurements: 33 1/2B-22-33 (as starlet and commercial model), 35C-24-35 (after implants), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Was offered a cameo in the film version of Charlie's Angels (2000). Negotiations fell through after Fawcett insisted on being cast as the voice of the new Charlie.

1965: Graduated W.B. Ray High School, Corpus Christi, TX. The class voted her "Best Looking.".

2003: Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame (by Dabney Coleman) for her legendary status on screen and off.

She is actively involved in charity work with the Cancer Society, in addition to her work against domestic violence. During her ongoing advocacy for this cause, she has participated in events such as the Humanitarian Awards in Media, anti-domestic violence panel discussions produced by Show Coalition, and has served as a board member of the National Advisory Council for The National Domestic Violence Hot-line, the most effective and leading non-profit organization in America benefiting the victims of domestic violence.

Parents are James Fawcett and Pauline Fawcett (who passed away on March 4, 2005).

Was originally a Microbiology major in college until changing her major to Art in her sophomore year.

Is, to the day, 2 years older than Brent Spiner and 3 years older than Barbara Sukowa.

Was neighbor of Tori Spelling and Aaron Spelling for 10 years

She attended Rodney Dangerfield's memorial at which she held a Native American butterfly release ceremony and is sculpting a bronze life-size statue of Rodney to be placed in Pierce Brothers Memorial Park.

Filmed an episode of "Chasing Farrah" (2005) at her parents' home in Houston.

10/06: Revealed she is battling cancer of the intestine and is undergoing radiation treatment.

Sister of Diane Fawcett Walls (who passed away on October 16, 2001).

Following the debut of "Charlie's Angels" (1976), the number of baby girls named Farrah increased dramatically in the US. In 1977 it was the 177th most popular name.

2/2/07: Officially declared cancer-free.

3/06: Chosen by Australian mens magazine Zoo weekly as one of the "Top 50 Hottest Babes Ever".

Early in career appeared as a contestant on "The Dating Game" (1965).

5/07: It was revealed that her cancer has returned after three months of her being cancer-free. She was having a routine check-up and a small polyp was found that turned out to be malignant and she underwent treatment again. She was to have a steel seed implanted that will emit radiation.

Family friend Farrah Forke was named after her.

Best friend of Alana Stewart.

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