The actress who began as everyone’s favorite pinup (mine, too–I’m of that vintage) has died after a long and public battle with cancer. Hers was a remarkable journey, really, from those blow-dry feathered hairdos to really superb acting roles to the latest cancer icon, and martyr.
With anyone so embedded in the public consciousness in one particular role, or manifestation, it takes a while to change perceptions. That must go doubly for a blonde like Fawcett who started out in the Glory Days of 1970s TV series like Charlie’s Angels (and married at the time to “The Six Million Dollar Man.”)
But I finally woke up to her journey when I saw her in the Robert Duvall vehicle, “The Apostle,” which I think one of the best cinematic portraits ever of a pastor–in his case Pentecostal, but it could almost have been any man of the cloth. She played his long-suffering wife.
Fawcett apparently was Catholic, which I never knew. She dies at 9:28 a.m. PST on Thursday at St. John’s Heath Center in Santa Monica, Calif., with longtime partner and troubled actor Ryan O’Neal at her side:
“She’s gone. She now belongs to the ages,” O’Neal tells PEOPLE, also confirming that she received last rites. “She’s now with her 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.”
The two were planning to wed, but there was no time in the end, according to the People magazine account. But, the magazine writes, ”Friends and family plan to honor Fawcett with a funeral service at a Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles in the next few days.”
That would be Our Lady of the Angels, I assume.
RIP, Farrah Fawcett.
posted June 25, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I just wanted to say I have prayed that something,anything would help her get better,I love and miss her already,Ryan my thoughts and prayers are with you and Redmond,I know Im a nobody,but if there is anything Ican do please dont hesitate. With my prayers, Holly
posted June 26, 2009 at 11:37 am
She was a beautiful soul. I grew up admiring her, for her strength and inner beauty. I would never of known, that she was in only one season of Charlie’s Angel’s. We all face challenges, along our journey through life. I weeped for her, because I loved her too. My prayers are with her family, as she is truly, an angel with wings flying high, happy, and free, to be alive in a new found place. Her new journey begins. Sincerely, Yolanda Tamez
posted June 26, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I enjoyed her as an actress. It is unfortunate that her and Michael died at relatively the same time. She was a wonderful role model for women of all ages.
posted July 2, 2009 at 8:04 am
I remember reading in People Magazine, before Farrah was on “Charlie’s Angels,” but when she was married to Lee Majors, that she prayed the rosary every night. Recently I saw scenes of Farrah holding her rosary while she underwent cancer treatment. Although she did some things that were not Catholic (like having a child out of wedlock and not marrying her partner), it seems that baptism does indeed make an indelible mark upon the soul.
By the way, Princess Diana was buried with the rosary that Mother Teresa had given her, and Diana wasn’t even Catholic. I pray that more people will come to appreciate the Rosary’s power and beauty.
posted February 6, 2012 at 7:13 pm
I am young but i still saw her in movies i admired her she was my role model when i was in 5th grade i made a powerpoint about her and i love the tv show charlies angels i actually still love it in my class we are doing presentations of people we admire and we have to dress up as them and i am being her