Farrah Fawcett is renowned for her memorable roles in Charlie’s Angels, The Burning Bed and numerous other projects. The late actress started her acting journey in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she began appearing in commercials, most notably as the face of Wella Balsam shampoo and Ultra-Brite toothpaste with her signature bouncy blonde hairstyle.

The actress launched to stardom when she joined the cast of Charlie’s Angels. Also, her captivating image in a red bathing suit found its way onto a poster and became an instant sensation, selling over 12 million units. That being said, her former assistant, Mike Pingel, who also runs the ultimate Charlie’s Angels fansite, points out, “People think of Farrah as a poster. Or that she’s hair, teeth and a smile; that she’s just the all-American California girl. Which she’s not. If you take a step back, you’ll see she’s an award-nominated actress for her work in television, theater and in films. Her career was not only Charlie’s Angels or a poster, but was one that the industry tipped their hat to so many times.”

Farrah Fawcett’s journey to fame

After leaving Charlie’s Angels in 1977, she continued to work in television and film, showcasing her acting range and versatility. The late actress received critical acclaim for her portrayal of a survivor of domestic abuse in the aforementioned 1984 television film The Burning Bed, which earned her an Emmy nomination. She also appeared in other movies, such as Extremities and The Apostle.

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CHARLIE’S ANGELS, Farrah Fawcett, ‘Consenting Adults’, (Season 1, episode 110, aired December 8, 1976), 1976-1981. ph: ©ABC / courtesy Everett Collection

Fawcett made headlines and sparked significant controversy when she posed for the December 1995 issue of Playboy. Her bold decision created a significant buzz, leading to immense popularity for that issue, which went on to achieve remarkable success, emerging as one of the bestselling editions of the ’90s, with an impressive worldwide sale of over four million copies. Continuing to challenge conventions, she fearlessly embraced her body and posed again for Playboy at the age of 50, gracing the pages of the July 1997 issue, which was also a commercial success.

Farrah Fawcett dies after a serious battle with cancer

On October 4, 2006, it was reported that the late actress was suffering from rectal cancer and was undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery. Sadly, after a period of remission, news emerged on May 17, 2007, indicating that Farrah Fawcett’s cancer had returned and had spread to her liver.

SUNBURN, Farrah Fawcett, 1979, Paramount Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

The late actress passed away on June 25, 2009, at the age of 62, after a courageous battle against the disease. “I’ve watched her this past year fight with such courage and so valiantly, but with such humor,” Fawcett’s Charlie’s Angels costar Kate Jackson told PEOPLE.

Pingel offers this description of Farrah Fawcett: “She was the Marilyn Monroe of the ’70s. She is the ’70s!”