Five decades after Charlie’s Angels first arrived on television, its leading ladies remain as captivating as ever.
Jaclyn Smith, 80, Kate Jackson, 77, and Cheryl Ladd, 75, reunited at the 2026 Emmy Awards to mark the show’s 50th anniversary. The trio, whose combined age is 232, impressed viewers with their youthful appearances.
“They all look gorgeous,” one fan wrote on X after the three women took the stage.
“They look great,” another admirer posted as Smith, Jackson, and Ladd honored their late co-star Farrah Fawcett.
Fawcett was among the original stars of Charlie’s Angels, but departed after its first season to pursue dramatic acting roles. She died in 2009 at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer.
The series ran for four more seasons, with Ladd joining the cast after Fawcett’s exit.
Charlie’s Angels stars Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd reunited at the 2026 Emmy Awards
The three actresses portrayed private detectives working for a mysterious millionaire in the hit series
“It’s an honor to be here tonight to present the Emmy for Drama Series,” Jackson told the audience as the trio gathered at the microphone.
“And to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels,” Ladd added.
“I would like to acknowledge someone not standing with us tonight, and that’s my friend Farrah Fawcett,” Smith said.
“As I said many times, charisma doesn’t need a second season. She’s here, and she’s here with us in everyone’s collective memory,” she continued.
“Farrah was the shiniest angel of all, and she was loved by millions of people all over the world. She still is today, and they’ll never forget her,” Jackson said. “And neither will we.”
“And her iconic poster lives in the minds and the garages of many a man,” Ladd added.
Charlie’s Angels, which followed a team of beautiful and savvy private detectives working for a millionaire named Charlie, premiered in 1976.
It became a cultural phenomenon for showing women in power.
Ladd joined Jackson and Smith in 1977 when she was cast on the hit series during its second season to replace Fawcett and remained on it until its cancellation in 1981.
Ladd played Fawcett’s character’s younger sister Kris Munroe on the show.
Smith, who played Kelly Garrett on Charlie’s Angels, was the only actress to remain on the series for all five years until the show came to a close in 1981. She appeared in all 110 episodes of the show.
The women paid tribute to the ‘shiniest angel of all’, Farrah Fawcett
Fawcett, pictured second from left with the stars, starred on the first season of Charlie’s Angels. She died in 2009 at age 62
In 2003 she revisited Charlie’s Angels by appearing in the film with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. And she also popped up in the latest film version from director Elizabeth Banks.
In 2019, Smith talked to People about the last time she saw Fawcett, her friend of 40 years.
‘She was in pain and couldn’t stay still,’ said the brunette beauty. ‘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.’
Smith also touched on the years that she made Charlie’s Angels with Fawcett.
Ladd and Smith wowed as they made their Emmys grand entrance
The women joined forces to celebrate their show’s 50th anniversary,
She said that the two, as well as co-star Kate Jackson, had ‘each other’s backs’ on the set.
‘It was like a college dorm, eating in our trailers together,’ said Jaclyn.
‘Sometimes we’d shop on weekends for what we were going to wear. We were not just actresses working, but girlfriends and it remained that way for 40 years.’
Most people think that Farrah was on Charlie’s Angels for all five years, but she actually left the series after season one to pursue dramatic work.
‘When Farrah decided to leave after one season, we all supported her,’ said 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.’
Smith also acknowledged that the show made all of them.
‘It changed our lives. We were sorta like rock stars. When we went to Hawaii for the season opener, we had guards around the clock. We all went on to do our thing, but the power of Charlie’s Angels — it helped define who we were and where we went.’
