A standing ovation greeted Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd as the iconic trio from Charlie's Angels reunited at PaleyFest LA this week, marking the 50th anniversary of the pop culture phenomenon. The actresses, who portrayed private detectives answering to a mysterious boss, were met with cheers from an enthusiastic audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The hour-long crime adventure series first aired on 22 September 1976, a time before the internet and streaming, when only three major television networks dominated the airwaves. It quickly became a top-10 hit for ABC during its initial two seasons of a five-year run, which concluded in 1981. Jaclyn Smith reflected on the show's groundbreaking nature, telling the audience: "I knew the show was different, special and unique. Three women chasing danger instead of getting rescued." Kate Jackson added, "We made an impact, I think."
Farrah Fawcett-Majors, with her distinctive feathered hair and famous swimsuit poster, became a 1970s icon before departing after the first season to pursue a film career. She passed away in 2009. Cheryl Ladd stepped in as her replacement, famously arriving on her first day wearing a "Farrah Fawcett Minor" T-shirt.
Ladd, who had initially turned down producer Aaron Spelling three times, acknowledged the challenge of following such a beloved figure. "I knew that there was nobody that was going to replace Farrah, so I made a joke of myself," Ladd explained on the red carpet. "Everybody laughed. Farrah would have done something like that." Jackson affirmed, "Cheryl stepped in and we didn’t miss a beat."
Despite its popularity, the show faced criticism, often dismissed as "jiggle television" due to the women's often scantily clad undercover disguises and perceived vapid acting. However, Jackson remained unfazed. "It didn’t bother me," she stated.
"I knew what we were doing and Gloria Steinem knew what we doing, and some other very impressive people knew what we were doing. We were helping to punch a hole in that glass ceiling and that makes a big difference."
Five decades on, Charlie's Angels continues to find an audience through reruns and DVDs, having also inspired a film series starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. Jackson further elaborated on the show's subtle impact: "We were giving people an hour to sit back, put their feet up, forget everything and watch television, and then again just kind of subtly getting the message in there that women are just as capable, intelligent, can do anything that a man can do."
The mostly older audience at PaleyFest cheered and laughed as clips from various episodes were shown, featuring other cast members like Shelley Hack, Tanya Roberts, and David Doyle.
Following their time as Angels, Smith, 80, and Ladd, 74, built prolific careers in made-for-television films and guest appearances. Jackson, 77, who left after three seasons, went on to star in the CBS hit Scarecrow and Mrs. King before stepping away from the business nearly two decades ago to raise her son. Now, she declares, "I’m ready to go back."
The trio's enduring sisterhood extends to their shared experience of overcoming breast cancer.
Ladd publicly revealed for the first time on Monday that she had battled an aggressive form of the disease, though she did not specify when. Smith recounted her immediate support: "When Cheryl called me, the first thing I did was send her my wigs." Smith was also by Jackson's side during her own cancer battle, and all three urged the audience to prioritise regular health screenings.
In a lighter moment, the actresses were asked about their favourite outfits from the show. Jackson's response, "I wore a lot of turtlenecks," drew laughter. Smith highlighted her tiny white bikini from the opening credits, while Ladd recalled, "Bikinis, a lot of bikinis." Smith quipped, "Our ratings went up."
Jackson, Smith, and Ladd are set to reunite again on 14 May as honourees at the Paley Honors gala in New York. Smith's memoir, I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie, is scheduled for release in September. Ladd expressed her lasting pride in the show, saying, "I was really proud to be part of that show. I felt so loved. You couldn't be in a bad mood. It was always uplifting to hear it."
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