The Daily brings together all the film news you need to know, updated throughout the day.
David Hudson
The Daily is written by David Hudson -- contact him at thedaily (at) ifc dot com.
Farrah Fawcett, 1947 - 2009.
By David Hudson on 06/25/2009
"Farrah Fawcett, an actress and television star whose good looks and signature flowing hairstyle influenced a generation of women and, beginning with a celebrated pinup poster, bewitched a generation of men, died Thursday morning in Santa Monica, Calif," writes Susan Stewart in the New York Times. "She was 62.... Ms Fawcett won praise for her serious acting later in her career, typically as a victimized woman and notably in the television movie 'The Burning Bed.' But she remained best known for the hit 1970s television show 'Charlie's Angels,' in which she played Jill Munroe, one of three beautiful female private detectives employed by an unseen male boss who (in the voice of John Forsythe) issued directives and patronizing praise over a speaker phone."
Joe Leydon has "much fonder memories of her sporadic appearances as the elusive object of David Janssen's bemused desire in 'Harry O' (1974 - 76), a cult-fave TV series (and, trust me, I'm a proud member of that cult) that is long overdue for an authorized DVD reissue."
"Boy, did the 1970s ever need Farrah Fawcett," writes Richard Corliss for Time. "Watergate and the Nixon resignation, soaring crime rates and gas prices - bad news everywhere - had the nation in need of a tonic, or a diversion, which is almost as therapeutic. Who could have guessed it would come in the trim form of a Texas blond with a no-quit smile?"
"My generation viewed Fawcett as the sad and flighty space cadet past her prime making frequent appearances on David Letterman," writes Ed Champion. "The older woman who bared all in Playboy just as the term MILF was gaining popular usage. Robert Duvall's troubled wife in 'The Apostle.' Even Robert Altman exploited her as Richard Gere's mentally afflicted wife in 'Dr T and the Women.' You couldn't really make fun of Fawcett, because doing so would mean perceiving her through this troubling misogynistic prism. But if you empathized, would you fall into the same trap?"
"'If you were to list 10 images that are evocative of American pop culture, Farrah Fawcett would be one of them,' Robert Thompson, a professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University," tells Valerie J Nelson in the Los Angeles Times. "'That poster became one of the defining images of the 1970s... In an odd way, even with all that Lycra and bralessness, ["Charlie's Angels"] was a feminist statement,' Thompson said. 'This was an hourlong drama with women as action heroes. They were working in areas of power that generally we didn't see women in much.'
"[M]y original poster still hangs in a corner of my dad's garage to this day, and I hope it stays there a while longer, if only as a reminder to me of pop culture's staying power in the face of life's most insistent realities," writes Dennis Cozzalio.
"It was a long, hard climb from poster joke to respected actress, but Farrah Fawcett made it," writes Edward Copeland.
Online viewing tips. Karina Longworth (SpoutBlog) and ST VanAirsdale (Movieline) gather a few clips.
[Photo: "The Burning Bed," Anchor Bay Entertainment, 1984]
Tags: Farrah Fawcett- Permalink
-
- Comment
ashling
my heart goes out to farrah's loved ones. she will certainly be missed. i lit a virtual candle and left a lasting condolence to her family at tributes.com/farrah-fawcett
Gerolyn Jenkins
I would just like to convey that I am so sad that Farrah is gone and I applaud her fight for life. She is/was an amazing person. God bless her always and I hope to see her again. :)
Such sad news. I grew up watching “Charlies Angels,” and even though it was sexist and Ms. Fawcett was only on for one season, the silly show certainly had an impact on me.
Condolences to her family. She was one of a kind.
Nic
Today we lost a beautiful woman, friend, Mother, partner, daughter, tough, gutsy lady - a fighter. Unless you have/have had or have intimately known someone battling cancer you may think you know about it - but you don't and I hope you never will. Farrah made the decision to go public with her battle in "Farrah's Story' and I commend her and her dear friend Alana for sharing this with all those who chose to watch this moving account of just a small part of what she went through. Bless her for trying to make others aware. Not only will she be remembered for her fabulous hair, 'that' poster and her incredibly beautiful smile but she gave us a season on Charlie's Angels, which at it's time was a fun and entertaining show. That's what it was meant to be and it succeeded. It took us away from our everyday trials and tribulations for an hour a week and I loved it and needed the distraction. She may have not become an instant 'movie star' after leaving Charlie's Angel's but anyone who saw her in the riveting movie "The Burning Bed" saw that she was an outstanding actress.
I have read several Blogs tonight and found that most people who Blog are like the 'talker' at a party. They just want to hear their own voices and worst of all they were fighting among themselves over ... who said what ...who was right ... the in's and out's of alternative medicine and meditation ... etc. How desperately sad and truly how uncaring in the wake of the lose of a lovely human being.
My deepest sympathies to Farrah's family, her Father and her son and her true love Ryan and her true friends. So many people followed Farrah's battle and fought along side her for her miracle. Her physical persona is no longer with us but to those who were her true friends and to her family I wish to extend my deepest sympathies. These coming days will be very difficult. And to all her fans my heartfelt condolences. You have lost someone who was dear to your hearts too. May those who wish to say a few words of sympathy from you heart do so. It will mean a lot to her family and even to others who log on just to read what others have said. Now is a time of solace and blessings and prayers. Remember Farrah and all those close to you who could use a prayer too.
May she be at peace now. No more battles, no more pain. May your Angel wings be as beautiful has your unforgetable hair style. Heaven is a lovelier place with you in it. I know you are watching over your loved ones. You are their Guardian Angel now and I know one day you will all be together again.
Always an admirer,
Say Hello and I Love You to my Mother and Father for me. I hope to meet you one day.
BJB
Lets remember Farrah too. Her gift of beauty turned out to be an inside job. Thank you for showing us who you were on your Documentary. Not since Liz Taylor's "look at me warts and all" have we been blessed with the fact that every person "of Fame" is a " person" walking through this life the best they can. I used to envy your hair and now I hope I have the integrity and fortitude that was probably always there tht turned out to be who you were all along .
geraldine lelii
Farrah is now at peace. she was beautiful inside & out. I respect her even more with the presentation she showed us, with her fighting cancer. She was & is an ANGEL!
My tribute to Farrah Fawcett, on Forbes.com:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/farrah-fawcett-michael-jackson-poster-opinions-columnists-tunku-varadarajan.html
Martha Ambrose
I am saddened to hear of Farrah Fawcett's recent passing. I have no idea why I felt a connection with her, perhaps it was as simple as our ages are similar and she seemed to hold an inner beauty I admired. My sympathies to her family and loved ones.
Julie
Your courage and fight was so inspirational. Cancer has taken another beautiful person. My deepest sympathy to Farrah's loved ones. Rest in peace Farrah.
she will be loved and missed
Recent Comments
- “Can't wait to see Moon, looks like a winner.”
- Chicago Blogger on Wrapping Edinburgh 09. - 06/28/2009
- “http://www.tribecafilm.com/news-features/blog/Dont_Miss_You_Wont_Miss_Me.html Check out this articl...”
- Kerry on Sundance. "You Won't Miss Me" - 01/18/2009
- “Perfectly done, an inspiration. Those of us who are working to make STAR TREK a reality could not be...”
- Dan Weiss on "Star Trek" - 05/07/2009
- “some decent looking films to look forward too.”
- hombre on Wrapping Edinburgh 09. - 06/28/2009
- “We'll have to wait for the DVD to get the best version of the film. I'm sure what will be released i...”
- bondage on Cannes. "Antichrist" - 05/17/2009
