Claim: Farrah Fawcett is a thespian.

Farrah Fawcett -LRB- born Ferrah Leni Fawcett ; February 2 , 1947 -- June 25 , 2009 -RRB- was an American actress and artist . A four-time Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee , Fawcett rose to international fame when she posed for her iconic red swimsuit poster -- which became the best selling pin-up poster in history -- and starred as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie 's Angels -LRB- 1976 -- 1977 -RRB- . In 1996 , she was ranked No. 26 on TV Guide `` 50 Greatest TV stars of All-Time '' .   Fawcett began her career in 1968 in commercials and guest roles on television . During the 1970s , she appeared in numerous television series , including recurring roles on Harry O -LRB- 1974 -- 1976 -RRB- , and The Six Million Dollar Man -LRB- 1974 -- 1978 -RRB- with then husband , film and television star Lee Majors . Her breakthrough role came in 1976 , when she was cast as Jill Munroe in the ABC series Charlie 's Angels , alongside Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith . The show propelled all three to stardom , but especially Fawcett -LRB- then billed as Farrah Fawcett-Majors -RRB- . After appearing in only the first season , Fawcett decided to leave the show which led to legal disputes . Eventually she signed a contract requiring her to make six guest appearances in the show 's third and fourth seasons -LRB- 1978 -- 1980 -RRB- . For her role in Charlie 's Angels she received her first Golden Globe nomination .   In 1983 , Fawcett received positive reviews for her performance in the Off-Broadway play Extremities . She was subsequently cast in the 1986 film version and received a Golden Globe nomination . She received two Emmy Award nominations for her roles in TV movies , as a battered wife in the 1984 film The Burning Bed and as real-life murderer Diane Downs in the 1989 film Small Sacrifices . Her 1980s work in TV movies also earned her four additional Golden Globe nominations .   In 1997 , she gained some negative press for a rambling appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman , but also garnered strong reviews for her role in the film The Apostle with Robert Duvall . She continued in numerous TV series , including recurring roles in the sitcom Spin City -LRB- 2001 -RRB- and the drama The Guardian -LRB- 2002 -- 2003 -RRB- . For the latter , she received her third Emmy nomination . Her film roles include , Love Is a Funny Thing -LRB- 1969 -RRB- , Myra Breckinridge -LRB- 1970 -RRB- , Logan 's Run -LRB- 1976 -RRB- , Sunburn -LRB- 1979 -RRB- , Saturn 3 -LRB- 1980 -RRB- , The Cannonball Run -LRB- 1981 -RRB- , Extremities -LRB- 1986 -RRB- , The Apostle -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , and Dr. T & the Women -LRB- 2000 -RRB- .   Fawcett was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 ; the 2009 NBC documentary Farrah 's Story chronicled her battle with the disease . She posthumously earned her fourth Emmy nomination for her work as a producer on the documentary .