Screen star Fawcett dies aged 62

Actress Farrah Fawcett has died after a three-year battle with cancer

Actress Farrah Fawcett, who became an icon of 1970s US television, has died of cancer in Los Angeles aged 62, her spokesman has confirmed.

Fawcett is best known for starring in Charlie's Angels, and in later years for hard-hitting TV and stage roles.

Her battle with illness was chronicled in the television documentary Farrah's Story earlier this year.

Her partner Ryan O'Neal said: "After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away."

'Courage and strength'

He was said to be by her beside when she passed away in a Los Angeles hospital.

"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," he said.

The star's former Charlie's Angels co-star Jaclyn Smith said: "Farrah had courage, she had strength, and she had faith."

The actress, who played Kelly Garrett in the hit TV series, added: "And now she has peace as she rests with the real angels."

Cheryl Ladd, who played Kris Munroe in the show, said: "I'm terribly sad about Farrah's passing. She was incredibly brave, and God will be welcoming her with open arms."

Her death has come just weeks her TV documentary was broadcast.

The video diary chronicled her battle with anal cancer in her final months.

O'Neal said she had wanted to tell her story on her own terms.

O'Neal, who has been with Fawcett on and off since 1982, recently disclosed they would finally get married, but never got the chance to exchange vows.

The screen star was previously married to Lee Majors, star of The Six Million Dollar Man, from 1973 to 1982.

She and O'Neal have one son, Redmond, who is serving a prison sentence for drug offences.

As Fawcett's career was taking off, she posed in a red bathing suit for a poster which went on to sell several million copies.

Her tousled blonde locks, made famous by her role in Charlie's Angels, were emulated by fans across the globe.

The actress earned a string of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her small screen roles, but never won one of the major awards.

In 1995, she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Comments