In 1967, the landscape of TV was transformed when Charlie’s Angels made its debut.
This show didn’t just provide entertainment; it completely altered the expectations of what female heroes could achieve.
Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith weren’t merely solving crimes; they were shattering stereotypes, demonstrating that women could be intelligent, powerful, and effortlessly fashionable all at the same time.
Charlie’s Angels offered more than just exciting mysteries and bold adventures. Farrah, Kate, and Jaclyn became symbols of empowerment, motivating an entire generation to reconsider women’s roles, both in front of and behind the camera.
And we can’t overlook the fashion — those stylish outfits were more than just costumes; they made a statement, shaping trends and pop culture in ways that surprised everyone.
Even with mixed reviews from critics and a label of being merely “jiggle television” that emphasized the allure of its female stars, Charlie’s Angels still climbed into the Nielsen top ten during its first two seasons.
I’ve mostly seen reruns of this iconic show over the years, but recently, I decided to explore a bit more and find out what really happened behind the scenes of this beloved classic. And let me tell you — there are tons of funny bloopers, unexpected moments, and shocking stories that you probably never knew existed.
A drinking issue and some pajamas.
For anyone who somehow hasn’t seen this cult classic, here’s a brief overview: Charlie’s Angels follows the crime-fighting escapades of three women working at a private detective agency in sunny Los Angeles. The original trio — Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith — led the show, while the voice of their enigmatic boss, Charlie Townsend, came through a speakerphone, directing their missions.
Now, here’s a cool behind-the-scenes fact about Charlie himself. John Forsythe wasn’t the first choice to voice the boss. The original actor, Gig Young, was let go at the last minute due to a drinking issue. Forsythe took over and ended up recording his first voice-over while wearing his pajamas.
Throughout the whole series, Forsythe never actually appeared on set. All his lines were recorded separately and added in later. He even told the show’s producer, Aaron Spelling, that if he were to show up on screen, it would cost a lot of money. To maintain the illusion, whenever Charlie was ‘seen,’ it was just a stand-in shot from behind or from a distance.
Same cars, wrong angles
Here’s a blooper you might’ve missed, even if you’ve watched Charlie’s Angels a dozen times. Every time a new scene starts at the Townsend Agency, they show the same shot of the building with the Angels’ cars parked out front. But—if you’re paying attention—the cars out front hardly ever match which Angels are actually inside in the next scene.
And here’s the kicker: whenever all three cars are shown, they’re almost always parked in the same left-to-right order — white, yellow, and orange. Consistency, right? Well… not really. The white and orange cars are always parked in no-parking zones, and there’s only one parking meter for all three spots. So either the Angels had some serious VIP connections, or the parking department just ignored the rules for crime-fighting fashionistas.
Oh, and in case you were curious about those stylish rides? Each Angel had her own signature Ford. Jill (and later Kris) drove around in a flashy Cobra, Kelly kept it cool in a Mustang, and Sabrina rocked a Pinto like the boss she was. And let’s not forget Bosley — he showed up in a Thunderbird, of course.
How much did they make for each episode?
When Charlie’s Angels first premiered, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith were newcomers in the acting world — and their salaries reflected that. Each was earning only $5,000 per episode. On the other hand, Kate Jackson, the more experienced member of the trio, was making double that amount at $10,000.
However, things took a turn — especially for Jaclyn Smith.
As the only Angel to remain with the show for all five seasons, Smith’s salary increased along with the show’s rising popularity. By the time the last season aired, she was making an astonishing $75,000 per episode, placing her among the highest-paid television stars of that era.
Only four major stars earned more than her: Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family), Alan Alda (MASH*), Larry Hagman, and Linda Gray (both known for Dallas).
From Alley Cats to Charlie’s Angels
Believe it or not, the iconic show Charlie’s Angels nearly had a very different and rather awkward name: Alley Cats. Yes, that was the original title being considered, even though it had nothing to do with the fashionable, crime-fighting women at the center of the series. And let’s face it… the name didn’t exactly convey “classy detectives.”
Fortunately, Kate Jackson intervened. While in Aaron Spelling’s office, she spotted a painting of three angels on the wall. That’s when the idea struck her — and she proposed the name Charlie’s Angels instead.
The rest? Total TV history.
Thanks to that moment, the show became a pop culture icon, creating a legacy that still thrives today through reruns, DVD collections, reboots, and a major film franchise that started in 2000.
Why Farrah Fawcett really walked away
When Charlie’s Angels first aired in 1976, Farrah Fawcett wasn’t just one of the stars — she was a sensation. Her iconic red swimsuit poster was everywhere, and her feathered blonde hair became the defining hairstyle of the decade. Fans were crazy about her. The media was obsessed. But then, just after one season, she surprised everyone: Farrah was out.
So why did Farrah Fawcett leave one of the biggest shows on TV? The answer is complex — involving money, marriage, ambition, and a strong desire for more than just fame.
When you check out photos from the set with all the Angels together, they often look happy and cheerful — but behind the scenes, things were definitely more complicated.
Farrah’s sudden rise to fame overshadowed her co-stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. According to the Washington Post, she was set to receive a raise to $10,000 per episode, but there were rumors that she wanted $75,000. Additionally, she reportedly asked for 10% of the show’s merchandising profits. However, the producers weren’t getting any clear signals from her.
“I would say, ‘Well, Farrah, if we give you eight percent?’ and she would say, ‘Well, no, I don’t know,’” producer Leonard Goldberg recalled to Vanity Fair. It seemed like she didn’t want to negotiate at all.
The real struggle Farrah faced
In reality, Farrah was aiming for something beyond just a TV salary. In early 1977, she told the Washington Post she dreamed of making a “picture with real woman’s emotions.” Her co-star Jaclyn Smith later confirmed that Farrah “wanted to do features instead of a series.”
Farrah and her then-husband, Lee Majors, even started their own production company named Fawcett-Majors Productions. The producers of the show attempted to keep her by offering a deal: continue with Angels, and they would also cast her in a movie. She declined.
Farrah felt creatively trapped. Although the show was famous for its glamour and action, she wanted to portray more depth — more struggle, more emotion.
“I want them to start showing she’s had some hard knocks, too, and cries, and is sad,” she shared with The Washington Post. “Who’s gonna care about her if all she does is say, ‘Ooo! This week I get to play the hooker?’”
She even confessed that the show’s success likely had little to do with acting. “When the show reached No. 3, I thought it was our acting. When it hit No. 1, I realized it could only be because none of us wears a bra.”
Ultimately, she was brutally honest: “Creatively, I just felt stifled. So, it was time for me to leave.”
“I felt uncomfortable when all of a sudden I got more attention and fan mail than Jaclyn Smith or Kate Jackson,” she told People in 1981. “I felt them change, not outwardly, but inwardly. We never had any arguments, but I felt a little barrier.”
Wherever she went, fans crowded around her. Her fame became overwhelming. “I became successful before I was ready for it or knew what I was doing,” she admitted. “The success came before I had done what I thought was a good role.”
She realized one thing: “If I was going to stay in the business I had to change — and I wanted to change.”
Behind the lawsuit
Farrah’s departure didn’t go smoothly. Jaclyn Smith publicly criticized her for leaving, stating, “I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I mean, you have a contract.” But Farrah stood her ground, insisting: “It’s a well-generated myth that I was violating a contract.”
However, lawsuits ensued. The producers took legal action against her for breaking the contract, which ignited a stressful legal conflict.
This legal conflict finally concluded when Farrah Fawcett agreed to make six guest appearances for the remainder of Charlie’s Angels, which continued to air until 1981. However, leaving the show came with a significant toll on her career. Fawcett stated that her choice to exit resulted in her being excluded from other chances in Hollywood.
“The entire lawsuit nearly ruined me,” she confessed in a 1979 interview with People.
“The industry was really angry with me and unfriendly because I was a TV sex symbol who aspired to be an actress. People viewed me as quite pretentious, and for months, no one wanted to work with me.”
Cheryl Ladd’s bold introduction
After Farrah Fawcett left after the first season, Cheryl Ladd came on board, bringing her unique energy and charm. She took on the role of Kris Munroe, who is the sister of Farrah’s character.
On Cheryl Ladd’s very first day on set, she broke the ice by wearing a custom T-shirt that said “Farrah Fawcett Minor” — a playful reference to the big shoes she had to fill.
In a similar fashion, when Kirstie Alley joined the cast of Cheers, she made a striking entrance by donning a bold pink power suit, complete with a big blonde wig just like Shelley Long, and playfully acting all prim and proper. Her fun approach quickly won over the cast and crew, making her a favorite from the very start.
The legacy
The early seasons of the show were a success, ranking among the top 10 most-watched programs. However, as the 1980s approached, Charlie’s Angels began to focus more on glamour and less on substance, causing viewers to lose interest. The final episode, “Let Our Angel Live,” marked the end of what had been a groundbreaking journey.
However, the legacy continued to endure. The tale was brought back to life with a bang on the big screen, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu — contemporary Angels who advanced the story with more intense action and a new cultural flair.
The 2011 reboot aimed to recapture the original magic but stumbled, concluding after only seven episodes. Then in 2019, Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott stepped into the roles, but the series had a hard time appealing to both old and new fans.
Through all the highs and lows, Charlie’s Angels remains a strong symbol of female empowerment and independence.
It broke down stereotypes, created opportunities for women in action roles, and demonstrated that femininity and strength can coexist. For many viewers, the Angels were more than just characters on screen — they were pioneers, role models, and evidence that women could shine brightly in a world that was just starting to acknowledge their strength.
The original Charlie’s Angels Stars
The original lineup of Charlie’s Angels from the 1970s won the hearts of audiences worldwide and left a significant mark on TV history.
Here’s a brief overview of what happened to the legendary Angels:
- Kate Jackson (born October 29, 1948) — Still alive and well, Kate is fondly remembered for her portrayal of Sabrina Duncan, the intelligent and strong leader of the Angels.
- Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) — Unfortunately, Farrah passed away at the age of 62 after a long fight with anal cancer. She is still cherished as one of the most adored Angels, known for her iconic hairstyle and charisma.
- Jaclyn Smith (born October 26, 1945) — Jaclyn, the only Angel to feature in all 110 episodes, is still alive and thriving. She opened doors for female leads in television with her role as Kelly Garrett.
- Cheryl Ladd (born July 12, 1951) — The actress who took over for Farrah Fawcett as Kris Munroe is still alive and doing well, remaining active in both acting and music.
- Shelley Hack (born July 6, 1947) — Shelley became part of the show in season 4 and is enjoying a vibrant life as an actress and producer.
- Tanya Roberts (October 15, 1949 – January 4, 2021) — Tanya sadly passed away at the age of 71 due to complications from a urinary tract infection, just after being mistakenly reported dead.
If you grew up loving Charlie’s Angels or simply want to pay tribute to their legacy, share this homage and help keep their spirit alive!