The stars of the original Charlie’s Angels will always be connected by the iconic show — and through shared health battles.
The beloved series premiered on September 22, 1976, and initially starred Kate Jackson as Sabrina Duncan, Jaclyn Smith as Kelly Garrett, and Farrah Fawcett as Jill Munroe.
Following the late Farrah’s departure after season one, she was replaced by Cheryl Ladd, who played her on-screen sister Kris Munroe, and who just reunited with her fellow former Angels in honor of their milestone 50th anniversary.
Speaking with Maria Shriver for TODAY, the three women opened up about all three having had cancer. “Each one of you is a cancer survivor. And we know Farrah Fawcett also had cancer. Did you share stories amongst each other?” Maria asked.
It certainly strengthened their friendship, with Jaclyn, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer when she was 55 in 2002, sharing: “It just connects you because you know what they’re going through,” emphasizing the “power of girlfriends,” which she believes Charlie’s Angels represented.
The trio had discussed their respective battles with breast cancer the prior day at a PaleyFest LA panel, during which Cheryl shared news for the first time that she’d gone through breast cancer as well.
© Getty ImagesThough she did not disclose when she was diagnosed nor what treatment she received, she did share: “It’s always a shock, and mine was an aggressive form.”
“It’s a humbling experience, and yet I had wonderful doctors and a wonderful husband who helped me fight all through it,” she added. Cheryl has been married to music producer Brian Russell since 1981.
She described the battle as a “long, hard road,” particularly struggling when she lost her hair due to chemotherapy, and her co-star Jaclyn shared: “When Cheryl called me, the first thing I did was send her my wigs. She was so brave.”
© Disney General Entertainment Con“It’s really important to understand and embrace not being afraid of getting a mammogram,” Kate, who was diagnosed with breast cancer twice, first in 187 then again in 1989, emphasized. “Early detection is key. Find it early enough and you’ll probably be all right.”
© Getty ImagesFarrah, then 59 years old, was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, specifically a squamous cell carcinoma.
She was declared cancer-free a year later, though the cancer returned, metastasized, shortly after as stage IV, in May 2007. She passed away aged 62 on June 25, 2009.
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