Farrah Fawcett

Passes Away at 62



Written by Jake on Jun-26-09 12:25am2009-06-25T10:25:17

Farrah Fawcett, the star of Charlie's Angels who's blinding-white smile and sun-blond hair set the standard for female beauty in the '70s, passed away Thursday morning after a long battle with cancer at the age of 62.

The actress had recently made a documentary, Farah's Story, an unfliching look as Fawcett sought cures in both the United States and Germany.

It was reported on Monday that Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's long-time companion and father of her 24-year-old son Redmond O'Neal, had asked Fawcett to marry him. Speaking to Barbara Walters, O'Neal said, "We will [marry], as soon as she can say yes... Maybe we can just nod her head."

Last night, it was reported that Fawcett had taken last rites as her condition rapidly worsened. She passed away shortly before 9:30 a.m. Pacific time in a Santa Monica hospital.

Fawcett died in hospital surrounded by friends and family shortly before 9:30 am (1630 GMT), reports said.



"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," O'Neal said in a statement released by Fawcett's publicist Arnold Robinson.

"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."

O'Neal told People magazine's online edition he had talked to Fawcett through the night.

"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."
Speculation that Fawcett's death was close at hand had mounted after veteran ABC television interviewer Barbara Walters said the actress had been given her last rites earlier Thursday.

Reports said O'Neal and Alana Stewart were at Fawcett's bedside when she passed away at St John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

Earlier this week O'Neal revealed he planned to marry Fawcett, who has been battling cancer for three years. "I've asked her to marry me, again, and she's agreed," O'Neal said.

O'Neal, 68, and Fawcett had been romantically involved off-and-on since 1982. The couple had a son together, Redmond, but never married.

Redmond O'Neal is currently in jail in California for drug offenses and was not at his mother's bedside when she died but spoke to her on the phone before her death Ryan O'Neal told People.

Fawcett's son told her "how much he loved her and asked her to please forgive him that he was so very, very sorry," Ryan O'Neal was quoted as saying.

Fawcett emerged as a pop-culture icon in the 1970s and 1980s after her role in "Charlie's Angels" and appearance in a famous poster wearing a red swimsuit that would come to be her defining image.

During the 1970s, Fawcett was married to "Six Million Dollar Man" star Lee Majors, from whom she separated in 1979. In 1982 she began a long romance with actor O'Neal and the couple had a son together, Redmond in 1985.

After splitting from O'Neal in the 1990s, Fawcett faded from view, although she appeared in Robert Altman's 2000 comedy "Dr T and the Women" in a cast that included Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Laura Dern and Kate Hudson.

In recent years Fawcett's health was the subject of intense scrutiny by a voracious tabloid media.

News of her cancer fight broke in October 2006, sparking an outpouring of support from fans and well-wishers.

In 2007 she declared that months of grueling chemotherapy had seen her beat the cancer despite "excruciating pain and uncertainty." "It never occurred to me to stop fighting -- not ever," she said.

However, in April this year it emerged that the cancer had returned and the actress was gravely ill.

(zimbio/afp)