Jaclyn Smith Distraught Over 'Angel' Farrah Fawcett's Death During Warhol Painting Lawsuit
Former Charlie's Angels star Jaclyn Smith will never forget her dear friend and co-star, Farrah Fawcett -- in life and in death, Fawcett continues to make an impact.
On Monday, the 68-year-old actress, broke down in tears while supporting Fawcett's widower Ryan O'Neal in court. O'Neal is currently defending himself in a lawsuit filed by the University of Texas over a Warhol painting of the late actress, according to Page Six.
"Smith was spotted hugging O'Neal and Fawcett's son, Redmond, before bursting into tears. Moments later, asked why she was crying, Smith told The Post's Helen Kumari that she broke down 'seeing Redmond, and I miss Farrah.' The university wants Ryan to fork over two pieces of Andy Warhol art -- a painting and a tablecloth the pop artist doodled on."
According to Page Six, the University of Texas, Fawcett's alma mater, claims the portrait belongs to them as the actress left all her artwork in a living trust. However, O'Neal has refused to turn it in along with a tablecloth the pop artist once doodled on, alleging that the painting is his.
A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she posed for her iconic red swimsuit poster and starred as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series, Charlie's Angels (1976-77). She was also known for her roles in critically acclaimed television movies, such as in "The Burning Bed" and "Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story."
On Jun. 25, 2009, Fawcett lost her battle to anal cancer. News of her death was significantly overshadowed by the death of pop culture icon Michael Jackson, who died later on the same day. News coverage was heavily focused on Jackson's death, leading to significantly less coverage focused on Fawcett.
Smith, who won her battle against breast cancer, appeared in Fawcett's documentary called Farrah's Story, which aired on NBC in 2009.
Farrah's Story, was a "video diary" of the actress's fight against anal cancer that spread to her liver. Her longtime companion, O'Neal, her friend, Alana Stewart, along with her Charlie's Angels co-stars, Smith and Kate Jackson, shared their thoughts in the documentary.
I spoke to Smith back in 2009, and she commended Fawcett for her sense of humor throughout her battle with cancer. She also shared her fondest memory with the beautiful blonde bombshell.
"My fondest memory -- there are so many, I don't know if I could just say one," she said. "Certainly the prison show when we were all chained together. So much took place in our friendships with all three girls."
Smith recalled a time when Fawcett came to her home for dinner.
"She's positive going through so much," Smith said of the late actress. "She's funny, she makes me laugh and that's something that I think is the best medicine in the world to stay positive and to find the humor in the midst of all the craziness."
In 2004, Smith returned to her Charlie's Angels roots when she made a cameo in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.
"Well I think it's always hard to go back to the past. Once I got on the set though I was lifted with love and it was phenomenal. Drew (Barrymore) had asked me to do it, so as a favor to her I did the cameo.
"It was fun. I had never had been with such an enthusiastic group and to sort to reunite yourself with something that had been so much part of your history and do it in a different way was fulfilling. I liked it, I'm glad I did it."