She had the nicest giggle and the most chaste jiggle of any of our modern sex symbols. Nowadays, in an era of enhanced body parts and minimized personalities, Farrah Fawcett, who has died at age 62, seems vivid all over again. We can always remember her as the Texas-born charmer she was when millions of people discovered her via Charlie’s Angels and her red-bathing-suit wall poster, the one with her tousled “Farrah cut” and the peek-a-boo nipple that inspired a nation.
Farrah rarely played the dumb-blonde cliche. Her Angel character, Jill, was naive, yes, and Farrah in her first blush of fame laughed a lot on talk shows, seeming perennially, happily suprised that people wanted to gawp at and get flustered over her. For a while, as Mrs. Farrah Fawcett-Majors, she was a pop-culture queen, wedded to the Six Million Dollar Man-king.
But she always had an independent streak, a willfulness — she was a colt who’d bolt: from her hit TV show after only one season; from her marriage after nine years. If she proved her acting chops in a TV-movie about an abused woman (1984’s The Burning Bed, for which she was nominated for an Emmy), she was just as effective as a luminous presence in the even-better TV-movie Murder In Texas (1981), playing Robert Duvall’s wife in the excellent The Apostle (1998) and in a small but vibrant role in the underrated Robert Altman film Dr. T & the Women (2000). She was also damn funny and beguiling in the short-lived 1991 CBS sitcom everyone seems to forget, Good Sports, co-starring her long-time love, Ryan O’Neal:
In later years, Farrah’s aging sex-symbol status hit a few rough patches. There was the I’m-an-artiste phase, during which she stripped nude for a 1997 Playboy, slathered herself in bright-colored hues, and made “erotic” body paintings. There was the weird, slurry, worrying David Letterman appearance the same year. In our current culture, she was thereafter pegged as a train-wreck, a has-been, a joke. She does not deserve any kneejerk derisiveness. Our hearts went out to her during her recent Farrah’s Story documentary about her own final days, told on her own terms.
But Farrah deserves to be remembered in her glowing prime, as the warm, smiling woman who combined girl-next-door sexiness with an implied can-do feminism, radiating positive energy and resourcefulness. Ultimately, Farrah Fawcett defied easy categorizing, which made her all the more interesting as a personality, and as a brave, vibrant person.
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I hope her family is doing alright, even though her passing wasn’t unexpected.
I used to absolutely love watching “Good Sports.” It was so sexy and fun. Thanks for posting the clip.
God speed sweet angel
Greatest poster ever!!
Farrah Forever!
also, Ryan O’Neal was not her hubby
She was a lady and a scamp, a muse and a flirt… and always a class act. I admired her beauty, her moxie and most especially the roles she chose during the years after Charlies Angels – they were all seemed to have a quality of real personal emotion for her, and made a statement for women everywhere.
She was one of those rare women who embodied a deep sexuality regardless of her age.
I will always remember her as she was in this poster (see above) that hung on the wall of my bedroom during my teen years.
The word that best describes her is: Classy.
RIP Farrah…we’ll miss you.
Very nice to see tributes pouring in. RIP, Farrah. You’ll be missed. My tribute here:
http://movies-tv-entertainment.blogspot.com/
Iconic, sexy, beautiful, gorgeous. We will miss you Farrah.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/06/25/nbc-announces-its-premiere-dates-for-the-fall/
God is now holding you in the hollow of his hand…..you have given us so much love…go neire an ta leat! We will love you forever.
How come no one, or the media, ever mentions the word S E X outlined in her hair. This was the one of the things I remember about that poster, in addition to that famous nipple peek…
The world is now less brite, now that her wonderful smile is gone. I was one of those kids that owned her swimsuit poster. thinking that she was the idea women.now looking back she was. RIP Farrah
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WEMEN EVER AND NO DUMMY TO BOOT WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE
The first memory I have of her is of the next door neighbor of Harry Orwell (David Janssen). Even then you had no doubt she would soon be a star.
Ken, YOU ARE AN ANAL CANCER.
Margot: What a charming person you must be.
Ken: Nice tribute.
Farrah: Be free of your pain now, Sweet Angel.
There are several more around the world who, like myself, went through Ray High School in Corpus Christi with Farrah. Sure she was knock out beautiful, however there was so much more to the woman. She knew what a smile from her to a self conscience, high school kid wearing a brace meant. It showed how much more than just a pretty face she was.
How come no one, or the media, ever mentions the word S E X outlined in her hair?
Cal – Probably because no one else has been on whatever drugs you’re on. Sorry, I’m not seeing it.
She was a truly beautiful woman, but also a damn fine actress. Her work in “Extremities” still haunts me…..Rest in Peace, Farrah.
R.I.P farrah and sorry for your loss ryan and family she will be missed.you and your family will be in our prayers
FARRAH IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN GOD BLESS YOU WILL LIVE ON FOREVER
Farrah was an extremely beautiful lady, not only on the outside, but inside as well. She fought a very courageous battle, and never gave up. She warmed many with her famous smile. God Bless
Even though I know the devastating effect cancer has, I was hopeful that Farrah would beat it. You will be missed lovely lady. May you rest in peace.
We will all miss you. As someone who was a young girl during the Charlies Angels years, I admired Farrah and saw her as a role model. She was beautiful and will certainly be as iconic as any other beautiful women. RIP.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Farrah will be a beautiful Gaurdian Angel watching over her loved ones.
Good bye and god bless you Farrah. You will always be an icon.
Although I never met Farrah, I always felt a connection to her, loved her, she seemingly was someone you could meet on the street and she would smile and talk to you. I have been a forever fan. God Bless her Son, Ryan and friends. I hope Redman will be OK and get his life Straightened out. I am sure she is an ANGEL forever Now. She will be sadly Missed.
hope there are two covers one for Michael Jackson and one for Sarah Fawcett they both deserve to be on the cover.
You hold a dear place in my heart. I admired you and I will always remember you. My prays go up for your family and May you rest in peace God Bless!