'Charlie's Angels' gather for 50th anniversary, remember Farrah Fawcett

Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY Tue, April 7, 2026 at 6:27 PM UTC

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LOS ANGELES — Three original "Charlie's Angels" stars — Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd — reunited Monday, April 6, for the PaleyFest 50th anniversary celebration of the TV classic series that dominated TV from 1976 to 1981.

But there was one major Angel missing from the Dolby Theatre stage — Farrah Fawcett, who left her role as Jill Munroe on the ABC hit in 1977 after just one season and died in 2009, at age 62.

Ladd, 74, recalled to USA TODAY on the red carpet that she wore a shirt with the words "Farrah Fawcett-Minor" for her first day on the set as Kris Munroe, replacing the departed superstar (who went by the married name of Fawcett-Majors at the time).

"I knew that there was nobody going to replace Farrah," Ladd said. "I made a joke of myself. I wasn't sure that everybody was going to accept me. And everyone went, 'Farrah would have done something like that.'"

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Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd during the 50th anniversary celebration of "Charlie's Angels" during PaleyFest Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on April 6.

Speaking from the stage, Ladd said that she flat-out denied requests to join the show three times from creator and famed producer Aaron Spelling. But then Spelling pitched Ladd the idea of playing the younger sister to Fawcett’s character.

"He said, 'If you’re Farrah’s little sister, you’re part of the family,'" Ladd recalled. "And I said, 'I’m in!'"

"She stepped right in and didn’t miss a beat," Jackson, 77, who played Sabrina Duncan, said.

Smith, 80, who starred in all five seasons as Kelly Garrett, admitted she was disappointed to see Fawcett leave. The two remained devoted friends.

"I was sad, confused, yeah, and I knew there were a lot of people in her ear," Smith said, obliquely referring to career advice Fawcett was taking at the time.

"She’s in our collective memory," Smith added, to audience applause. "She’s here."

The stars remembered great Fawcett moments, including shooting an episode in frigid Taos, New Mexico where everyone was chilled. Jackson and Smith recalled that Fawcett disappeared and was discovered in a small room with a gas stove and the burners at full blast, drinking vodka to keep warm.

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The program, moderated by TV reporter George Pennacchio, also paid tribute to other departed cast members John Forsythe, the famed voice of leader Charlie (who died in 2010 at age 92), and David Doyle, who starred as Charlie’s trusted assistant John Bosley (who died in 1997 at age 67).

Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd during the 50th anniversary celebration of "Charlie''s Angels" during PaleyFest Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on April 6.Smith passed on being a 'Bond girl,' Jackson exited 'Kramer vs. Kramer'

The women made career sacrifices due to their commitments and contracts with "Charlie's Angels." Jackson was set to star in the 1979 drama "Kramer vs Kramer," but eventually backed out of the movie due to conflicting schedules.

"They changed the movie schedule maybe four times," said Jackson, adding that Spelling eventually declined to accommodate. The "Kramer" part famously went to Meryl Streep. Jackson said she quit "Charlie's Angels" after the 1979 Season 3 to move on and avoid missing other meaningful projects. (Soon after she starred in "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," portraying a divorced housewife who becomes a secret agent.)

Smith turned down the opportunity to be a "Bond girl" in an unspecified James Bond movie due to her TV contract.

"Things happen for a reason,” Smith said. "What's meant to be will be."

Smith also recalled being attached to an early version of the movie "9 1/2 Weeks" with John Travolta; the roles eventually went to Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. She was also up for a role in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice," but stepped out of the running.

"I just didn’t understand it. My husband regrets that," Smith said, laughing. "But sometimes you read a script, and it doesn’t always ring true to you."

'Charlie's Angels' made 'an impact'

All three actresses stressed that taking the roles on the groundbreaking "Charlie's Angels" was the best move they made in their careers. It led to opportunities and stardom that continue 50 years later, as the enthusiastic theater crowd proved.

"I knew the show was different, special and unique," Smith said. "Three women chasing danger instead of being rescued from danger. Our show was the first of its kind. It gave women permission to be independent and break out of the mold and not be defined by men."

“We made an impact, I think," Jackson said.

In addition to the PaleyFest event, the Paley Center will pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of "Charlie's Angels" with a celebration on May 14 in New York City.

"I was really proud to be part of the show," said Ladd, who got used to fans stopping her on the street. “I felt so loved. You couldn’t be in a bad mood. It was always uplifting to hear it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Charlie's Angels' stars reunite, but still miss Farrah Fawcett

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