The names sometimes changed but the impact resonated for decades to come. In the early years of Charlie’s Angels‚ Jacklyn Smith‚ Farrah Fawcett‚ and Kate Jackson were the definitive brilliant‚ beautiful trio to tackle any situation. When the cameras weren’t rolling‚ Smith revealed‚ Fawcett would be an encouraging powerhouse of support – and it is these traits that Smith is remembering as she mourns Fawcett on her heavenly birthday. This year will mark 15 years since Fawcett died at the age of 62 after a battle with cancer. But on another significant anniversary – ten years to the day since Fawcett died – Smith remembered Fawcett’s bravery with her decision to go public with her cancer diagnosis at a time when such topics were talked about in hushed tones. Years later‚ celebrating what would have been Fawcett’s 77th birthday‚ Smith remembers a friend‚ a fighter‚ and a force of nature. Jacklyn Smith on legacy of Farrah Fawcett on 10th anniversary of her death Jaclyn Smith has spoken of Farrah Fawcett on the anniversary of her death and on her heavenly birthday / Everett Collection Fawcett was officially diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006‚ back when she was 58 years old. From that moment on‚ she fought with every bit of her energy‚ supported by her longtime partner Ryan O’Neal as well as her close friend Alana Stewart throughout a grueling treatment. Her tumor was removed and she was declared cancer-free in 2007‚ but the cancer returned later that year. Then‚ stage 4 cancer metastasized to her liver. During her final years‚ Farrah made the decision to film her battle against anal cancer. Her home videos eventually became the documentary Farrah’s Story‚ which aired on NBC shortly before her death. pic.twitter.com/JBFFAgsg8U — Norman M. Stewart (@Norman_MStewart) June 25‚ 2019 RELATED: Farrah Fawcett: Remembering Her Glamorous Years In Photos‚ 14 Years After Her Death Together‚ Fawcett and Stewart took to filming Fawcett’s journey. Stewart recalled‚ “It was just me and a little camera and her.” The move was still revolutionary enough to be a bold‚ brave one‚ both for openly discussing a cancer diagnosis‚ and specifically for casting a spotlight on such a rare condition as anal cancer. When Stewart was ready to pause recording when Fawcett got sick or had to shave her head‚ Fawcett would object‚ “No. This is what cancer is. Film it.” Her relentless bravery was balanced by very real vulnerability‚ with neither trait canceling each other out. “Farrah was relentless in her fight‚” said Smith to PEOPLE. “Who would have dreamed that this girl who was known for the smile and the hair and the glamour would open up the depths of her soul to share with the world?” She got a front-row seat to Fawcett allowing very relatable emotions to creep through. Smith shared‚ “She said‚ ‘I always thought I might get breast cancer or heart disease but never this’ and she started to cry. I never saw her cry after that.” Instead‚ she focused on launching The Farrah Fawcett Foundation‚ dedicated to raising funds for research and education. The organization was officially founded in 2007. Jacklyn Smith remembers Farrah Fawcett as a fighter and a friend on her heavenly birthday She remembers an actress and model who wanted to march to the beat of her own drum / ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection The two began working together on Charlie’s Angels in 1976; at the time‚ both Smith and Fawcett had leading role designation‚ shared with Jackson. 1977 would mark the start of Fawcett’s departure from Charlie’s Angels‚ but in the crucible of this crime drama‚ an enduring friendship was forged; Fawcett was missed but supported. “When Farrah decided to leave after one season‚ we all supported her‚” explained Smith. “She wasn’t afraid to say‚ ‘This is what I’m gonna do.’ Farrah wanted to be seen as a serious actress. She marched to her own drum. And once she was accepted as an actress‚ she went back to Playboy and posed at 50 years old. From a serious actress to a sex symbol again. There was never a boring moment.” There also was never a lull in the friendship between Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett. Indeed‚ the friends continued seeing one another through the rest of Fawcett’s life‚ across ups and downs‚ wins and losses. Fawcett underwent grueling treatment to combat her cancer‚ including eventually a treatment that’s been categorized as “aggressive” performed all the way in Germany because it was not approved of in the U.S. This tiring endeavor and the distance did not keep them apart and Smith got to see Fawcett to the end. Jaclyn Smith still honors Farrah Fawcett on her heavenly birthday / Everett Collection On one of their final visits‚ in which Fawcett came to Smith’s Los Angeles apartment‚ she recalled‚ “Farrah brought me a German chocolate cake she’d made. Then I found her in my closet. Her legs were swollen [due to her treatment] but she wanted to try on a pair of my shoes. She was a true girlfriend.” “She was in pain and couldn’t stay still‚” Smith recalled of their last visit. “I was rubbing her feet‚ trying to make her feel better. And that relaxed her. We must have talked for three hours about our lives‚ about our children‚ about growing up in Texas. The time I spent with Farrah at the end was the best because we appreciated the friendship.” Fawcett has been gone almost 15 years now and Smith still considers her time with Fawcett the best because of that friendship. On Fawcett’s heavenly birthday‚ Smith took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to the actress‚ model‚ friend‚ and warrior she adored. What does Jaclyn Smith do now?   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jaclyn Smith (@realjaclynsmith) “Farrah was magic‚” Smith posted on her birthday. “In her short time on Charlie’s we forged a friendship‚ and that bond lasted through so many milestones in both of our lives. Throughout everything she never lost the glimmer in her eyes or the spring in her step‚ and I count myself lucky to have known her. Remembering her fondly today on her birthday. Our golden girl.” There are several ways Smith would define Fawcett today‚ with the benefit of hindsight to look at the woman she knew firsthand and the actress’s overall story that began in the bustling coastal Corpus Christi‚ Texas in 1947‚ and ended in Santa Monica’s Saint John’s Health Center with Stewart and O’Neal at her bedside. “What I remember about Farrah is that as much of an eight-by-10 glossy as she was‚ she was the friend who cheered me on‚ the girl who loved her parents‚ the girl down the street‚” said Smith. “Together‚ we shared the ups and downs of life‚ of happiness and sadness‚” she continued‚ adding‚ “I miss her every day.” Today‚ Jaclyn Smith has made her mark not just as a seasoned actress but also as an entrepreneur. Her fashion collection‚ which was available at Kmart for 36 years‚ saw a revival through partnerships with Nordstrom Rack in 2022 and HSN in 2023. Beyond fashion‚ she ventured into home decoration‚ launching her own line‚ and has been designing fabrics for Trend since 2007. Click for next Article The post ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Jaclyn Smith Remembers ‘Golden Girl’ Farrah Fawcett On Her Heavenly Birthday appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author‚ Dana Daly