LOS ANGELES Sept 14, 2026 — The original Charlie’s Angels stars Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd took the stage at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hit ABC series and paying an emotional tribute to their late co-star Farrah Fawcett.
The trio walked out at the Peacock Theater to a standing ovation and the familiar Charlie’s Angels theme as they prepared to present the award for Outstanding Drama Series. Before announcing the winner — HBO’s medical drama The Pitt — they paused 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. “As I’ve said many times, charisma doesn’t need a second season. She’s here, and she’s here with us in everyone’s collective memory.”
Jackson followed: “Farrah was the shiniest angel of all, and she was loved by millions of people all over the world, and she still is today. And they’ll never forget her, and neither will we, and I’m sure you won’t either.”
Ladd added a lighter note that drew laughs: “And her iconic poster lives in the minds and the garages of many a man.”
The reunion marked five decades since Charlie’s Angels premiered on Sept. 22, 1976. The original Season 1 lineup featured Jackson as Sabrina Duncan, Smith as Kelly Garrett and Fawcett as Jill Munroe. After Fawcett left following the first season, Ladd joined as Kris Munroe, Jill’s younger sister, and stayed with the series through its 1981 finale.
Fawcett’s 1976 red swimsuit poster became one of the best-selling posters of all time, helping turn her into a pop-culture phenomenon even as the show itself defined “jiggle TV” of the era. The series ran for five seasons and remains a cultural touchstone.
Smith, 80, Jackson, 77, and Ladd, 75, have appeared together at several 50th-anniversary events this year, including a PaleyFest panel. Their Emmys appearance was introduced by host Mariska Hargitay, who described them as “three beautiful, badass secret agents who broke the mold one mission at a time.”
The moment served as both a celebration of the show’s enduring popularity and a reminder of Fawcett’s lasting place in television history.
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