Farrah Fawcett: Her Amazing Life From Start To Finish

Beauty Queen From The Start

Farrah didn’t have to deal with the awkward high school years like the rest of us, but when she started college, things only got better for her. She was chosen as one of the “Ten Most Beautiful Coeds on Campus,” the first freshman to do so. It didn’t take long for talent agencies all over the country to notice Farrah’s numerous beauty awards and begin searching for her images. Her attractiveness was immediately apparent, and she was solicited by several agencies. One Hollywood bigwig, David Mirisch, in particular, took notice of her and sought the future actress. He had a feeling she’d be a big star.

Beauty Queen From The Start

Study First

During her college years, Mirisch chased Farrah for almost two years. He pushed her to relocate to Los Angeles after seeing some of her work and realizing how beautiful she was. Most of us would leap at the chance to be famous, but Farrah isn’t one of them. She didn’t just pick up and depart. She was a student with a strong commitment to her academics, therefore she initially declined his offer. It wasn’t until 1968 that she accepted his offer. Her parents gave her permission to pursue her aspirations and “try her luck” at becoming a celebrity. They probably had no idea how famous their daughter would become at the time.

Study First

Started From The Bottom

Just because she was beautiful didn’t imply she’d have an easy time achieving popularity and stardom. Fawcett worked as a commercial actress at the beginning of her career, as did many other stars. Max Factor, Mercury Cougar autos, Noxzema, and even Beautyrest Mattresses all used her in commercials. She began establishing her resume, and it wasn’t long before Hollywood realized she was unique. With a few guest appearances on sitcoms like I Dream of Jeannie and Flying Nun, she boosted her small-screen prominence. She toiled for a few years before her efforts began to pay off.

Started From The Bottom

Poster Girl

In 1976, she finally broke through to the mainstream thanks to a single, famous poster. A concept was presented to Fawcett and her agency by the company Pro Arts Inc. They presented the idea of a poster. The Canton Brothers formed Pro Arts, which originally specialized in anti-war posters. It wasn’t until later that they decided to venture into Hollywood, with Farrah Fawcett as their first and only star. That famous swimsuit billboard was an instant hit. It went on to sell 12 million copies and is still the best-selling poster in the world today. That’s one way to get your career started.

Poster Girl

Moving To The Big Screen

What’s more astounding is that the diva fashioned herself for her classic poster. She not only chose her bathing costume, but she also styled her own hair. Her characteristic “Farrah Flip” was born after she applied some lemon juice to bring out her blonde highlights. With millions of copies sold, it’s no surprise that her poster girl status drew the attention of Hollywood. Fawcett’s fame got her her first film role in Logan’s Run, a sci-fi camp classic. She was cast as Holly 13 and, despite her little role, people adored her, thereby putting Fawcett on the map.

Moving To The Big Screen

Charlie’s Angels

Fawcett obtained her most famous television role thanks to her husband and her love of tennis. She and her husband (at the time), Lee Majors, were tennis partners with Aaron Spelling, a well-known television producer. He was looking for the right actress to play Jill Munroe in his upcoming film, Charlie’s Angels. Spelling took notice of his tennis buddy’s charm and cast Fawcett in the role for which she would later become famous. The legendary role further popularized the actress, and she was no longer merely a billboard girl. The film provided her with a great opportunity to showcase her acting abilities.

Charlie’s Angels

A Fan Favorite

When it came to the “Charlie’s Angels” girls, Farrah’s character was the most popular. At least, such was the case when it first aired in 1976. Fans were surveyed about their favorite angel after the film’s success led to it being made into a TV series. The gorgeous Fawcett came out on top as the public voted for their angels. Is that, however, truly surprising? When it came to people’s perceptions of attractiveness, she came out on top. However, all of the angels are definitely beautiful. All three actresses became famous as a result of the film. The concert was a hit since each angel was well-known.

A Fan Favorite

Falling Off

Fawcett said when asked why she thinks audiences loved Charlie’s Angels in 1977: “When the show was number three, I thought it was our acting. When we got to be number one, I decided it could only be because none of us wear a bra.” It wasn’t easy for the actress to get back on her feet after her time on Charlie’s Angels. She appeared in three films: Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978), Sunburn (1979), and Saturn 3 (1980). All of those films, unfortunately, were critical and commercial flops. Fawcett discovered that success on television does not always translate to success on the big screen.

Falling Off

Going Broadway

After a string of failures, Fawcett’s fortunes changed in 1983. On stage, the actress received critical acclaim. In the Broadway production of Extremities, she took over for Susan Sarandon. The play revolves around three female housemates who confront their would-be assailant. This was a significant contrast from Fawcett’s previous performances, which were more glamorous. Being a Broadway actress is a difficult task. You can’t make a mistake since you’re on stage. It’s not like shooting a movie with many takes. It was defined by the actress as “the most grueling, the most intense, the most physically demanding and emotionally exhausting” part of her career, she says. But, of course, in a positive manner.

Going Broadway

Winning An Emmy

By 1984, Fawcett’s talent as an actor had finally been appreciated. For her role in The Burning Bed, she was nominated for her first Emmy Award. Farrah Abraham did a fantastic job portraying the battered wife, but the film did more than just highlight her acting abilities. What you might not know about The Burning Bed is that it was the first TV movie ever to feature a helpline phone number. The hotline, in this case, was for victims of domestic abuse and violence who needed assistance. Many films and television shows now include hotline numbers in their opening or closing credits.

Winning An Emmy

Back To Movies

Farrah was given the opportunity to reprise her Broadway performance in the film adaptation of Extremities in 1986. She was nominated for a Golden Globe, and admirers assumed she would be nominated for an Oscar. The Oscar, unfortunately, did not pan out. It’s not every day that an actress gets the chance to reprise a Broadway role. She did an incredible job in the production and also in the film. Marjorie’s character battles a rapist, but he gets away with her pocketbook. When Marjorie’s assailant (James Russo) returns, he realizes she wasn’t the helpless victim he expected.

Back To Movies

Posing For Playboy

Farrah refused to give nude images of herself for her 1980 film Saturn 3 and maintained this stance throughout the 1980s. That’s why the world was taken aback when the actress posed semi-naked for Playboy in 1995. July 1997 was one of Playboy’s best-selling issues, and it featured the stunning Farrah Fawcett. A video of her using her body as a canvas was included in the issue, and it was something the actress had wanted to attempt for years! She was 50 years old at the time and looked amazing.

Posing For Playboy

Rambling

In 1997, Fawcett made headlines when she appeared “rambling” and incoherent during an interview on David Letterman’s Late Show. The actress retorted that she was only playing around. People weren’t buying her explanations, despite her best efforts. Rumors began to circulate about her, portraying her as an unstable substance addict, but she was eventually met with a unique form of retaliation. Years later, Letterman conducted an even more perplexing interview with Joaquin Phoenix, who was likewise rambling and seemed to be on something. “We owe an apology to Farrah Fawcett,” he said at the end of the conversation.

Rambling

Dating Game

It’s not surprising to see three men competing for Farrah Fawcett. But did you know that in 1969, the actress starred on a reality dating show? She was one of the bachelorettes on the popular TV show The Dating Game at the time. A battle broke out between her male suitors after she made her final decision. They were squabbling with one other. It turned out to be an April Fool’s hoax, thankfully. Would it be so difficult to believe if three men physically fought for Farrah Fawcett’s heart on television?

Dating Game

Chasing Farrah

Farrah was married to Lee Majors from 1973 till 1982. Despite the fact that they had no children together, she continued to perform under the stage name Farrah Fawcett-Majors following their divorce in 1979. When her divorce was finalized in 1982, she ceased using the name entirely. If you were a fan of reality television in 2005, you may have seen the show Chasing Farrah. The show followed the actress as she went about her daily routine. The show only lasted seven episodes, but she was able to capture one of her final journeys to Texas, when she was able to see her mother before she passed away on March 24th, 2005.

Chasing Farrah

Midnight Train To Georgia

Do you remember the song “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips? As it turns out, Farrah was the inspiration for it. Lee Majors’ friend and songwriter was Jim Weatherly. When he called Majors’ house one day, guess who answered… Farrah picked up the phone and informed Weatherly that she would be catching “the midnight plane to Houston” to see her mother. Although Houston is a long way from Georgia, it was all he needed to come up with the catchy lyric. It was all a coincidence, yet it resulted in a smash hit song. Who would have guessed?

Midnight Train To Georgia

Family First

Farrah was known for always prioritizing her family. The actress’ Charlie’s Angels contract stated that she would not work beyond 7 p.m. Her request was motivated by a heartwarming cause. She wanted to make sure she had enough time to prepare dinner for her husband, Lee Majors, every night, which I think is lovely. Fawcett worked as an actress full-time but didn’t allow it to overwhelm her entire life. She worked both inside and outside the house throughout her time there. “I love Lee, and I love cooking,” she has stated in interviews. I can barely cook for myself after a long day at work.

Family First

Why She Left Charlie’s Angels

Farrah left Charlie’s Angels after only one season. The explanation behind this has remained a mystery to this day. Although no one knows for sure why this is, there have been certain theories and suspicions. One popular belief is that there isn’t such a compelling explanation. Fawcett, as we all know, prioritizes her family. Fans speculated that the show’s success had put a burden on her marriage to Lee Majors. She simply did not want her professional life to affect her home life, which is acceptable. At the time, she was starring in ABC’s Six Million Dollar Man.

Why She Left Charlie’s Angels

Drama-Free

Reporters and the media, as we all know, enjoy a good catfight. Farrah was one of the actresses that stood firm in her refusal to give in to their demands. Reporters asked and encouraged the actress to speak out about her legal troubles with Charlie’s Angels while they were at their pinnacle. Journalists and reporters would not stop urging her to speak negatively about her fellow angels, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith. Farrah maintained her demeanor and knew when to keep her lips quiet. She never fell for the trap or made disparaging remarks about her previous co-stars.

Drama Free

The Farrah Flip

Farrah Fawcett was famous for her beautiful, thick, fluffy blonde hair. That’s what made it even more painful when she had to shave it off due to illness (but more on that later). Since she’s been in the public eye, her recognizable hair has even been given a name. Her stunning hair has been dubbed the “Fawcett Flip,” which is a fitting moniker. But that wasn’t the only nickname for her hair that people came up with. When discussing the starlet’s characteristic hair, the nicknames “Farrah-do” and “Farrah-flip” were also employed. You know you’ve made it when your hair gets its own celebrity.

The Farrah Flip

She Loved Studying

During her time at the University of Texas, Fawcett was tremendously dedicated to her studies. She even rejected down Hollywood offers since she wanted to concentrate on her studies, as we previously stated. Farrah was not only attractive, but she was also intelligent. She was a science nerd who intended to major in microbiology. She was always interested in the arts, but not necessarily performing. Farrah had a lot of fun sculpting. In any case, it seemed that Hollywood was her destiny. However, it’s clear that she could have had a successful career in any field if she hadn’t chosen the entertainment industry.

She Loved Studying

Her Iconic Hair

Farrah Fawcett was known for her famous blonde locks if there was one thing she was known for. Her co-star on Charlie’s Angels, Jaclyn Smith, remarked her hair “should have its own phone line,” and the long, gently feathery style swiftly became a “must-have” for both men and women in the 1970s. Fawcett’s hair was styled by celebrity hairstylist Jose Eber, who said: “That signature hair will be remembered forever and ever.” He went on to say, “There was something healthy about her. There was something magical, those teeth… that’s why she became such a great style icon.”

Her Iconic Hair

Her Battle Against Cancer

Farrah’s friend and oncologist, Dr. Lawrence Piro, said that “She was never, ever someone who cried about why she got cancer and someone else didn’t.” He continued saying, “She wanted to show everyone that cancer looks the same on one of the most glamorous, beautiful women in the world as it looks on every other woman and every other man.” Alana Stewart, one of her closest friends, assisted the actress in documenting her experience, including the heartbreaking day when she had to say goodbye to her iconic hair. According to ABC News, Stewart said, “She had done everything to keep from losing [her hair]. And she hadn’t. She still had her fabulous hair.” She went on to explain that “The last round of chemo, she had lost her hair, and it was hard for her.”

Her Battle Against Cancer

Cutting The Hair Off

Mela Murphy, Fawcett’s friend and hairstylist, describes that tough day when Fawcett made the painful decision to shave her head. “I went over to the house, and I was brushing her hair, and it was just coming out. I didn’t even respond. I was just putting it in my pockets, I was putting in my pants,” Murphy told ABC. She continued, “I was just pulling it out of the brush… I looked behind me in the bathtub, and it was in the drain. For some reason, she was the stronger one, and she could take it more, and she knew.”

Cutting The Hair Off

An Important Moment

She invited some friends over for emotional support when she shaved her hair, including Stewart. Stewart told ABC News that “She wasn’t sure she wanted the camera rolling, and I convinced her to let me keep it rolling because I thought it was going to be an important moment.” Piro also commented, saying, “It was very important for Farrah to shave her own head so that she was removing her hair, and cancer treatment wasn’t removing her hair.” Piro continued, “it’s kind of like that fine line between being a victim and a victor.”  She was absolutely correct. Many other persons fighting cancer were inspired by her bravery.

An Important Moment

The Diagnosis

Stewart also recalled the shock and how no one expected Fawcett to be diagnosed with cancer at the age of 58. “Farrah was the last person that thought about getting sick,” she said. “Farrah was the Golden Girl to everyone, so it was such a shock, to the whole world, when she got cancer. It kind of goes to show you that you know, cancer doesn’t play favorites.” Stewart revealed that she had been experiencing symptoms for a long time before seeking medical help. “She had a test done, and they discovered that she had this cancer the size of a strawberry. So I called her, and she started to cry, and I think I started to cry.”

The Diagnosis

The Treatment

Farrah chose typical treatment at UCLA, which included chemotherapy and radiation. Stewart recalled, “The radiation and chemo were just devastating.” She continued, “She had no idea how devastating and how difficult it was going to be.” At first, it worked. Stewart said, “Three months later, it was gone, and we were celebrating.” Things were looking well, but sadly, it didn’t last. Her cancer returned in May 2007, which is sad. It was even more terrifying this time. Her cancer had progressed to stage 4 and had spread to her liver. “She found out that day that the cancer had come back. Which was a huge shock to all of us,” Stewart recalled.

The Treatment

Being An Inspiration

Stewart went on to tell ABC how they started filming at that point. “We just started filming everything. It was just me and a little camera, and her. She wanted to document it because she wanted to, first of all, remember the things that her doctors said, what they were doing, and that’s kind of how the whole documentary started.” They documented her entire journey in order to share her challenges with the rest of the world, hoping to inspire others and show them that they are not alone. Farrah Fawcett, a huge and beautiful star, could get sick, too, and she truly wanted people to relate to her story.

Being An Inspiration

It Wasn’t A Vacation

Farrah traveled to Germany in 2007 with her longtime partner Ryan O’Neal and Alana Stewart to receive alternative treatment. According to Stewart, “She called me back and said, ‘We’re getting on a plane.’ I mean, that’s who she was. She was a pioneer, you know.” She went on to say that Farrah was not someone who gave up easily. “She was going to go, and she was going to do whatever cutting-edge therapy that she could do. And that started our German journey, which went on for a little over two years.” Alana Stewart also shared that the two friends managed to have fun even “during the worst times” there.

It Wasn’t A Vacation

An Aggressive Disease

Dr. Thomas Vogl, who treated Fawcett in Germany, described it as  “a very special form of cancer… there can be very aggressive tumors – mostly, they are detected not very early, mostly in the quite late phase. When I saw her the first time, and she presented here, it was stage 4.” Fawcett made the decision that she needed aggressive therapy for her serious cancer. Unfortunately, it was not without its drawbacks. Stewart recalled an instance: “There was a time when she was so sick, and she was just throwing her guts up. And I shut the camera off, and she said, ‘Why are you not filming this?’ And I said ‘Because I don’t want to invade your privacy,’ she said, ‘No.’ She said, ‘This is what cancer is, film it.’”

An Aggressive Disease

A Celebration

She returned to Germany in February 2008 for more therapy. Stewart said it was her birthday, and the doctor told her, “At this point, you are tumor-free.” Despite the fact that she wasn’t cancer-free, Stewart said it was still “a great cause for celebration.” Stewart said she had watched her friend go through so much suffering and therapy. “It was for the first time in a long time that things were really looking up. So [Fawcett] wanted to have a snowball fight. And you know, Farrah is very competitive, and she can be a little aggressive sometimes.” That sounds like a fantastic way to commemorate the occasion.

A Celebration

It Didn’t Last Long

At the time, Alana Stewart described Farrah as follows: “She looked fabulous, and she felt good, and she was full of energy, and she was so happy.” In the documentary, Stewart shared, “knowing now what lay ahead for Farrah, I wish I could’ve frozen that moment in time.” Unfortunately, medics discovered further malignancies in her body in April of that year. Obviously, this was devastating news, but Stewart maintained her composure. “When she heard the news, she was crushed, and Ryan put his arms around her. But she didn’t break down, that wasn’t Farrah.” Piro also said she was determined. “[She was] full steam ahead with any and every therapy option that there was.”

It Didn’t Last Long

Christmas Pies

Farrah Fawcett’s primary physician was Lawrence Piro. It was hard for him to speak to ABC News about her cancer treatment. He said she came to the point where “they could hardly get a needle in her vein anymore.” On a brighter note, Stewart mentioned how they would bake Texas Pies on Christmas Eve. “Farrah would always come over, and we would bake out pies and make our stuffing, our cornbread stuffing. Farrah had to come and lie down for a few minutes and rest in between. But we did it all. And we were still very hopeful. You know, she was weak, she was weak from all these treatments but still very hopeful.”

Christmas Pies

Serious Shape

Stewart reported having supper with Dr. Vogl about the same time. The doctor said, “I have to tell you, your friend is in very serious shape, and I don’t know how much time she has left.’ That was the first time anymore had ever really said that and I didn’t tell her. We didn’t want her to give up.” She went on to say that Fawcett abruptly declined. “She started to hemorrhage. She had an infection. One thing led to another, and she ended up back in the hospital, and then intensive care. From there, it was kind of, you know, we kind of knew that there wasn’t going to be a miracle at this point.”

Serious Shape

A Star Has Fallen

Farrah Fawcett died tragically on June 25, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. She was 62 years old and had Ryan O’Neal by her side. Alana Stewart mourned her loss and regarded Farrah as a sister. Or even a sister’s distance. According to Stewart, “About a week before she died, she was in the hospital, and I was sitting by her bed. I remember I was holding her hand and said, ‘You know, you’re my sister,’ and she said… she looked up at me, and she was very ill at the time and weak, and she looked up at me and said, ‘More than a sister.’”

A Star Has Fallen

Forever In Our Hearts

Farrah Fawcett, like many other celebrities, will be remembered for the rest of her life. Through her photographs and film roles, she will effectively live on in perpetuity. The stunning actress had a successful career in Hollywood, but she was unable to overcome her cancer struggle. She was aware that other people suffer from illnesses, so she made a point of documenting her own. She wished to demonstrate to other sufferers and the rest of the world that they are not alone. No matter how wealthy, handsome, or successful you are, you can contract the disease. Farrah Fawcett left the world on a positive note, despite dying weak in a hospital room. After her death, a documentary named “Farrah’s Story” was made on her journey with the disease.

Forever In Our Hearts