Original Charlie’s Angels stars Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd reunited on stage at the 2026 Emmy Awards to mark the show’s 50th anniversary and pay tribute to their late co-star Farrah Fawcett, according to live broadcast coverage by NBC.
The 2026 Emmys Reunion and Farrah Fawcett Tribute
The trio appeared at the 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to present the award for Outstanding Drama Series, which ultimately went to The Pitt. The appearance commemorated five decades since Charlie’s Angels premiered on ABC in September 1976. During the segment, Smith addressed the audience to remember Fawcett, who died of cancer in 2009 at age 62. “I would like to acknowledge someone not standing with us tonight, and that’s my friend Farrah Fawcett,” Smith said during the broadcast, adding that Fawcett remains “here with us in everyone’s collective memory.” Jackson referred to Fawcett as “the shiniest angel of all,” while Ladd reminded viewers that Fawcett’s “iconic poster” in a red swimsuit “lives in the minds, and the garages, of many a man.”
Behind-the-Scenes Friction and Merchandise Disputes
The milestone anniversary has also brought renewed public attention to internal conflicts during the show’s original five-season run, which concluded in June 1981. In her recent memoir, I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie, Smith detailed backstage tensions, writing that Jackson was a “complex person” whose anger “could get the best of her,” according to Page Six. Smith recounted an incident where Jackson drove a motor home in circles around a production lot after growing frustrated over a perceived slight on set. Furthermore, Smith wrote that Jackson believed she was owed creator credit and a share of profits from the series’ extensive merchandise because she helped develop the title and the concept of an unseen boss named Charlie communicating via speakerphone. Jackson confirmed her lingering frustration with the show’s financial legacy in an interview with Page Six earlier this year at the Paley Center Honors. “All that merchandising, somebody got rich off of it; it wasn’t the three of us!” Jackson stated. Smith also noted in her book that Jackson struggled to accept Ladd when she joined the cast after Fawcett’s departure following the first season.
Did you know? Charlie’s Angels ran for five seasons from September 1976 to June 1981, spawning the phrase “jiggle TV” due to the undercover assignments that often required the detectives to wear revealing outfits, as reported by Page Six.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Charlie’s Angels first premiere?
The series debuted on ABC on September 22, 1976.
Who were the original three Angels?
The original trio consisted of Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Farrah Fawcett, with Fawcett departing after the first season and being replaced by Cheryl Ladd, according to Page Six.
What award did the cast present at the 2026 Emmys?
Jackson, Smith, and Ladd took the stage to present the Emmy for best drama series to The Pitt.
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