Los Angeles - Farrah Fawcett, known as a third of Charlie’s Angels and her infamous poster, died Thursday, June 25, 2009 after a three year battle with cancer. She was 62 years old.
The star had anal cancer, a particularly rare cancer, and had fought for three years from the illness. Trying both traditional and alternative methods to become cancer free, Farrah documented her struggles in a very intimate and private documentary in which she shaved her famous tresses off before she lost them.
In her final days she had agreed to marry her longtime love Ryan O’Neal, after being with him for 17 yrs. Ryan had been quoted as saying they’d marry as soon as she could say yes. Tragically she died just days later and wasn’t able to fulfill that marriage vow. She had been formerly married to actor Lee Majors before being linked with O’Neal.
While her professional life never really made it well on the big screen, on television she had several hits. With series such as “Charlie’s Angels” and with made for tv shows such as “The Burning Bed”, Farrah made a name for herself. She kept trying to work in the industry wherever she could find a place. Both in her work, in love, and in her cancer battle, Farrah Fawcett never gave up.
Redmond O’Neal, who is serving time for violating his probation related to drug charges, will be allowed to attend his mother’s funeral and will be allowed to wear a suit, reports radaronline.
Fawcett’s funeral is set for Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Thursday morning the world lost one of its most recognizable female actresses. Farrah Fawcett died at the age of 62 in a Santa Monica hospital shortly after 9 a.m. PDT. At her side her long-time partner Ryan O’Neal spent the last hours of her life with her and comforted her. He told people magazine Thursday “She’s gone. She now belongs to the ages … She’s now with her mother and sister and her God. I loved her with all my heart. I will miss her so very, very much. She was in and out of consciousness. I talked to her all through the night. I told her how very much I loved her. She’s in a better place now.”
Fawcett was a multiple Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated American actress. Her role as Jill Munroe in the 70’s classic Charlie’s Angels made the beautiful blonde actress into the face of her generation. Every woman wanted her blonde mane of hair and every man simply wanted to be with her. Her iconic poster in a one piece red bathing suit sold a reportedly 12 million copies and became an item of pop culture history.
Fawcett’s battle with colon cancer began in 2006 and despite enduring extensive chemotherapy the cancer soon spread to her liver making a recovery almost impossible. Last week she was readmitted to the hospital and reported to be in serious condition. Fawcett is survived by her long time partner O’Neal, and 24-year-old son Redmond O’Neal who was unable to be by his mothers side at the time of her passing.
Famed pop star Michael Jackson died in Los Angeles, California, from a massive heart attack.
The fifty year-old King of Pop was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after he was found in his Holmby Hills home. He was not breathing, and apparently went into cardiac arrest enroute to UCLA hospital. Paramedics performed CPR, but Jackson slipped into a coma and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, to steelworker Joe Jackson. He was the lead singer of the Jackson Five, along with his brothers, but gained international fame from his solo career with such chart toppers as “Thriller” in 1982 and “Bad” in 1987.
The rise of rap, hip-hop, and alternative genres marked the beginning of Jackson’s decline. His descent from the top of the pop charts was made worse by his eccentricities, such as increasingly dramatic plastic surgeries, a series of short-lived marriages, and charges of child molestation at his Neverland ranch in the mid-90’s. In spite of past setbacks, Jackson announced in 2008 that he was planning a comeback tour, with concerts in 50 cities, beginning with a London concert in July 2009.
Jackson is survived by his three children, Prince, Prince Michael I, and Paris.
A study recently published by the BMJ, the British Medical Journal, shows that following the Mediterranean Diet can lead to a longer healthier life.
The diet is primarily comprised of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and legumes.
A moderate amount of alcohol, specifically wine, and only eating small portions of meat are also noted to be contributing factors in the diet. The study also shows that cereals, seafood, and low dairy intake does not appear to increase longevity. Protecting the brain from degeneration, reducing the chance of developing heart disease, and lowering the chances of developing cancer are some positive side-effects of the diet that were found in an earlier research.
23,349 healthy men and women who had not previously been diagnosed with heart disease, cancer, or diabetes were part of this study. They were followed for a period of 8 and 1/2 years, during which time their food intake was monitored to see how closely the Mediterranean diet was adhered to. The study concluded in June of 2008, and in general those who most closely followed the diet were found to have lived longer and were healthier.
So for those who want to live longer, be healthier, or lose weight might be wise to consider the Mediterranean diet as a perfect way to do just that. If it helps, think of it as a lifestyle change not a diet.
Farrah Fawcett died this morning at the age of 62 in a Los Angeles Hospital. The beloved star was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 and since then has been very publicly fighting for her life. Last week reports started circulating that Fawcetts condition had declined and that she had been readmitted to the hospital. At that time it was also believed that Fawcett would not be able to survive much longer. Ex husband and ever present ally at her side Ryan O’neill had proposed to Fawcett and had hoped to be able to marry her before she passed.
Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and found her calling when one of her pictures caught the attention of a Los Angeles publicist. She worked her way from commercials to small tv appearances until she finally found the role that made her a star “Charlie’s Angels.” During the year that she appeared on the show Fawcett became the essential pin up girl and her very iconic poster in the red bathing suit made her every mans dream. After leaving the show Fawcett never left the public eye because of her very tumultuous private life. Her battles in coping with her sons drug addiction and frequent arrests were all documented by the ever present media.
Today and forever Farrah Fawcett will be remembered as the gorgeous blond Jill Munroe on the classic Charlie’s Angels series. Her documentary Farrah’s Story will live on and so will her legacy.
It has been a long few years for actress Farrah Fawcett.
Her ordeal started back in 2006, when she received the shocking news that she had the rare disease of anal cancer. Ever since her diagnosis, Fawcett has set out to prove just what she was capable of accomplishing and has been determined to overcome her cancer. Despite the fact that anal cancer is difficult to treat, Fawcett refused to face her struggle passively, waging an impressive and inspiring fight. This attitude even prevailed when her condition relapsed and worsened, with the cancer spreading to her liver.
Even with the perseverance that allowed her to fight hard so far, many experts suggested that recovery was not likely for the “Charlie’s Angels” star, since her cancer had progressed to stage four, which is a considered to be very advanced. So it is perhaps not surprising that the latest reports suggest that Fawcett has been readmitted to the hospital, where she seems to be struggling in a final battle for her life.
According to her publicist, Allen S. Miller, fawcett was given her final rites.
“Farrah, is holding on, and has been given last rites. Her vision, dream, and mission was to give people hope to a cure. That is the message of the video SHE wanted aired. I assure you that we will continue and will live on. Fight the Fight,” wote Miller
“I loving Farrah, is in intensive care and is supported by catholic priests consistent with her faith. I have reports that Farrah has received last rights. It is time now to make contact with your god and say a prayer.”
Though these latest reports seem bleak, they have been countered with news of the personal hope that has made Fawcett’s fight so noteworthy. All along, Fawcett has relied heavily on her friends and family, approaching each step of her battle with her loved ones by her side. It was just this week that her longtime partner Ryan O’Neal announced that the pair plans to wed, a strong sign that the actress has not given up her hope in a miracle.
TV Legend Ed McMahon died early
Tuesday morning at Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center.
McMahon is best known for being Johnny Carson’s sidekick/announcer on “The Tonight Show” from 1962 to 1992 with his signature introduction of “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny”�.
While on “The Tonight Show” in the evenings he also hosted “Star Search” from 1983 to 1995 and helped to discover the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Britney said about McMahon “I am deeply saddened by today’s news about Ed McMahon. He is responsible for giving so many artists their first shot including myself. He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed.”
McMahon had been battling with cancer and was hospitalized in January with pneumonia. He had also faced serious financial problems over the last few years, falling behind on his mortgage of $4.8 million.
Donald Trump who helped bail him out financially said “America has lost one of its great icons. Ed McMahon was a terrific entertainer and a wonderful person. he will be greatly missed.”
Many other celebrities expressed their feelings for McMahon; David Letterman said “Ed McMahon’s voice at 11:30 was a signal that something great was about to happen. Ed’s introduction of Johnny was a classic broadcasting ritual - reassuring and exciting. Ed was a true broadcaster, and an integral part of Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” We will miss him.”
“Fifty years ago, Ed and I were next door neighbours. Over the years, our friendship grew while he became one of America’s favourite television personalities. We were together for years. Ed was a big man, had big talent and a really big heart. We’ll all miss him,” said Dick Clark.
McMahon is survived by his wife Pamela and five children. He was 86.
There will be a lot of happy people today who can grin at being slightly overweight when they read about the facts in a new study that was reported in the journal “Obesity” by Statistics Canada researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland State University.
Apparently a study in the U.S. published in 2005 in the “Journal of the American Medical Association”, which came up with similar results, didn’t get the publicity that this study has gotten.
A 12-year (1994/1995 through 2006/2007) study of 11,326 adults in Canada, which studied the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and death, found that underweight people were 70% more likely (the most dangerous BMI) than people of normal weight to die, and extemely obese people were 36% more likely to die.
However, overweight individuals were 17% LESS likely to die unless they were obese (whose risk had the same result as people of normal weight).
So those with a BMI index that falls into the “overweight” range will probably live longer than a person with an “ideal” BMI!
According to one of the study’s authors, David Feeny, PhD, “…it is surprising that carrying a little extra weight may give people a longevity advantage.”
However, you really shouldn’t try to add pounds just because of this study. Many other factors have to be considered including the tendency to increase blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes with increased pounds. Continue to eat properly and exercise to promote your good health.
Actress Farrah Fawcett knows how to take the good with the bad. Given her up and down struggle with anal cancer, Fawcett has seen her share of hardships, all punctuated by the hope and happiness found while with her loved ones. The most recent reports are that same mixture of bittersweet: a plan to marry and a return trip to the hospital.
The first has been long in coming, especially since reports surfaced that she nearly wed her longtime partner Ryan O’Neal while in Germany receiving treatment. The pair was unable to finalize their partnership there due to time constraints, and yesterday it was announced that the two still hope to make that dream come true. The news came from O’Neal himself during an interview he gave with a news program where he stated that they planned to perform the ceremony as soon as she was able.
Unfortunately, other reports say that Fawcett has made a return trip to the hospital, where her condition is allegedly declining. Though the location of the hospital is unknown, Fawcett has reportedly been admitted for around two weeks. Along with this, there have been attempts made to allow Fawcett’s son, Redmond O’Neal, a temporary release from his drug treatment facility where he is receiving year-long treatment due to drug charges. This petition suggests that Fawcett may indeed be doing poorly.
There has been no official word regarding Fawcett’s condition, nor are there any details available concerning when and where O’Neal and Fawcett may marry.
Dangerous MRSA infections may come from an unexpected source. According to a study published in the July 2009 issue of the Lancet Infectious Diseases, cats, dogs, and horses have been shown to carry Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a particularly nasty form of bacteria that resists treatment by antibiotics. MRSA can cause disfiguring infections and serious complications, or even death.
Dogs and cats usually carry a different form of Staphylococcus, but they can acquire MRSA from humans. Pets can act as reservoirs of the bacteria, so that infection can be passed back and forth between humans and their domesticated companions. Of particular concern are dog and cat bites, because these deep puncture wounds can harbor MRSA and provide an ideal environment for infection to flourish. Bites on the human hand, forearm, neck, and head are the most prone to infection. Children are most often bit in these areas because they are short. Cat bites usually cause deeper puncture wounds than dog bites and carry more risk of infection.
“Pet owners are often unaware of the potential for transmission of life-threatening pathogens from their canine and feline companions,” the researchers said. Doctors treating such wounds should be aware of the animal’s history and the risk of MRSA infection, so that appropriate treatment can be administered.