Back to back, we have another “Charlie’s Angels” star: Cheryl Ladd. Replacing Farrah Fawcett after only one season, Ladd, like Smith, remained on the show for the entire run. Using her fame on the TV series, Ladd furthered her musical career, performing the National anthem during the 1980 Super Bowl XIV, as well as releasing three albums! Her popularity on TV led to a number of TV films, including a role as the iconic Grace Kelly.
Other guest appearances, such as on TV shows such as “Charmed” and “CSI: Miami” proved successful, before finally landing a 29-episode run on TV drama series “Las Vegas.” Recently, she starred in “Unforgettable,” albeit the film received negative reviews. Regardless, she’ll always be an Angel to us!
Nancy Kerrigan
No one can forget the scandal surrounding Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Recently they made the film I, Tonya starring the ever-glamorous Margot Robbie as Harding, and Caitlin Carver as Kerrigan. After consecutive wins in 1992 and 1993, Kerrigan was shockingly attacked by the ghastly ex-husband of her arch-nemesis Tonya Harding.
Despite an excruciatingly painful knee injury, Kerrigan recovered and went on to take home silver in the same year. Whilst her claim to fame isn’t a graceful ascent, and was marred by the nastiness of others, she is a celebrity in her own right. Her skill and talent on the ice proved her resilience and tenacity, which are the makings of a true role model. She then went on to appear in season 24 of "Dancing with the Stars," with her Foxtrot with Artem Chigvintsev remembered as one of the most memorable performances of the season!
Jaclyn Smith
A regular in "Charlie's Angels," Jaclyn Smith played the feisty Kelly Garrett, and was, in fact, the only original female lead to see the whole show through till the end. In a cheeky cameo, she reprised her famous role in the 2003 film "Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle." But her role in the original TV series propelled herself, and the other Angels to stardom, even appearing on the cover of Time magazine!
After "Charlie’s Angels," Smith turned to more entrepreneurial pursuits, pioneering the idea of celebrities developing their own lines, with a range of women’s apparel for Kmart. She has since gone on to introduce her own bedding and bath accessories, as well as a wig collection for Paula Young Wigs. Whilst the wig path may seem quite niche, it is for good reason; in 2003, Smith herself battled breast cancer – this was a way of giving back.
Farrah Fawcett
To round out our trio is the face which perhaps epitomizes "Charlie’s Angels:" blonde bombshell Farrah Fawcett. A fan favorite, Jill Monroe was the girl everyone wanted to be, or be with! Salty fans say the show wasn’t the same after her brief stint, despite the show running for almost another decade! Best known for her bouncy golden locks, and that cheeky red-bikini, Fawcett was a four-time Emmy, and six-time Golden Globe nominee.
In the later years of her life, Fawcett, in a controversial, and deeply-saddening move, filmed a “video diary” of her illness, titled Farrah’s Story, documenting her struggle with cancer, and ultimately, losing her battle. She passed away at age 62 in 2009. She will be long remembered, and greatly missed by Hollywood, and the world.
Dawn Wells
Who can forget the warmth of Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan’s Island?" She and Tina Louise are the last cast members still standing from the original series; signaling almost the end of an era. Her role on the show brought her great success, starring in TV shows, films, and even has her own show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1985. She was ranked in 2005 for her leading role as one of TV Guide’s “50 Sexiest Stars of All Time.”
But whilst she is a star, she too is only human. Just this year, a good friend of Dawn Wells, Dugg Kirkpatrick planned to launch a fundraiser to help the "Gilligan’s Island" star pay off medical bills. Within ten days, over $140,000 was raised by loyal fans. Sadly, Dawn passed away in December 2020, she was 82 years old.