Actress Farrah Fawcett, who rose to stardom in the 1970s on US television show Charlie's Angels, has died after a long battle with cancer.
The 62-year-old was diagnosed with the disease in late 2006 and in recent weeks announced plans to marry long term partner Ryan O'Neal.
'After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away. Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years,' O'Neal told reporters this afternoon.
During the 1970s, Fawcett was married to 'Six Million Dollar Man' Lee Majors, from whom she separated in 1979.
In 1982 she began a long romance with Ryan O'Neal and the couple had a son together, Redmond, in 1985.
Though she shot to fame in Charlie's Angels - it was Fawcett's appearance in an iconic poster that cemented her status as an international sex symbol and pop culture icon for her times.
The poster went on to sell an astonishing 12 million copies and saw women the world over flock to hairdressers seeking to emulate the actress's distinctive layered, tumbling tresses, which came to be known as 'Farrah Hair.'
Speculation that Fawcett's death was close at hand had mounted earlier this morning after veteran ABC television interviewer Barbara Walters said the actress had been given her last rites.
Walters made the disclosure in comments to the 'Good Morning America' breakfast television show.
Fawcett died in hospital in Los Angeles this afternoon surrounded by friends and family.
