The iconic 1976 poster of Farrah Fawcett
Fawcett died June 25, 2009, with long-time companion Ryan O'Neal and friendAlana Stewart by her side.
My favorite part of the Oscars comes when they pay tribute to celebrities who died within the past year. It's a little cringe-inducing to gauge the applause for each one — it almost seems to become a competition to see who was the most popular — but it's a nostalgic way to say goodbye to beloved stars. So I was shocked when the montage ended, and Farrah Fawcett was not included.
Instead of admitting the mistake, an Academy spokeswoman said, "I would not say it was an oversight. No matter how carefully and conscientiously people address who is included, there are people who just simply can't be."
Shame on you, Oscar.
Sure Fawcett, who died last June at the age of 62, was primarily known for her TV work and a pin-up poster that became the iconic image for a generation. But she also strived to be a serious actress, leaving the hit 1976 show Charlie's Angels for a movie career. The Texas native won acclaim with a riveting portrayal of an abused wife who murders her husband in the 1984 TV movie, The Burning Bed. She also made 19 movies, including Extremities, Logan's Run, The Apostle and Dr. T and the Women, which was directed by Robert Altman.
It was the second time since her death that she hasn't received her due. A few hours after her death was announced, Michael Jackson was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home. On any other week, Farrah's passing would have dominated news coverage and she would have been a shoo-in for the cover of People magazine. But Jackson's death dominated media coverage.
Jackson was included in the Academy tribute, even though his movie career was sparse — The Wiz and a posthumous movie about preparations for his last concert were the highlights.
Jackson may have been the "King Of Pop," but Farrah was a star.
