‘Charlie’s Angels’ Stars Recall Bikini Battles, Cast Changes, Health Scares and Making TV History: ‘It Gave Women Permission to Be Independent’

Cheryl Ladd chuckled as she remembered being called a “troublemaker” by “Charlie’s Angels” producer Aaron Spelling. Ladd said Spelling liked her being in a bikini on the hit 1970s series — but she was having to wear one on screen so often “that it was starting to piss me off.”

Speaking on stage Monday at the Paley Center’s PaleyFest L.A. panel celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Charlie’s Angels,” Ladd recounted how she sent the show’s producers a message: “I went out and bought the tiniest little bikini ever seen on television!” Something that wouldn’t pass muster with ABC censors.

Related Stories

'SNL U.K.' Premieres With Solid Overnight Ratings for Sky

After Standing Up for Immigrants, Charles Barkley Sounds Off About Iran, Artemis II Moon Mission and Pam Bondi in 'SNL' March Madness Opener

“We filmed, and Aaron was not happy,” she said. “So he said to someone, ‘tell the little troublemaker that she’s never going to do that again!’ And I didn’t, but I did make my point. And after that, I was wearing swimsuits I felt comfortable in.”

Added co-star Jaclyn Smith: “And our ratings went up!”

Ladd, Smith and Kate Jackson — who was instrumental in first getting “Charlie’s Angels” up and running — shared stories about the show’s origins, their favorite moments and other memories to a packed PaleyFest crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

“I knew the show was different, special and unique,” Smith said. “Three women chasing danger instead of being rescued from danger… our show was the first of its kind. It gave women permission to be independent and break out of the mold and not be defined by men.”

The panel also turned serious as Ladd revealed publicly for the first time that she had been recovering from breast cancer — a diagnosis that Jackson and Smith have also faced.

“It’s always a shock, and mine was an aggressive form,” Ladd said of her cancer. “It’s a humbling experience, and yet I had wonderful doctors and a wonderful husband who helped me fight all through it.”

Ladd said she struggled with going bald due to chemotherapy, but as sprouts of hair returned, she rallied. “It was a long, hard road,” she said.

Smith said she credited “the power of girlfriends” and her family for supporting her during her own breast cancer treatment, and passed that message along to Ladd: “When Cheryl called me, the first thing I did was send her my wigs. She was so brave.”

Smith recounted also being at Jackson’s bedside when she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

“It’s really important to understand and embrace not being afraid of getting a mammogram,” Jackson told the audience. “Early detection is key. Find it early enough and you’ll probably be all right.”

Added Ladd: “If you find something, don’t ignore it.”

The “Charlie’s Angels” panel opened with a highlight reel from “Charlie’s Angels,” showcasing clips from episodes like Season 1’s “Angels in Chains” (including the iconic strip search scene); Season 2’s “Angel Flight” (when Kelly lands a jet plane); and Season 3’s “Angel Come Home” (marking the guest return of Farrah Fawcett).

Jackson then recounted the story of how “Charlie’s Angels” came to be: She was starring on “The Rookies,” from Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, and as that show was winding down, Spelling/Goldberg Prods. had a right of first refusal on Jackson’s next project. Goldberg brought her a project titled “Alley Cats,” about three women who were private investigators but also wore whips and chains.

“Len said, ‘It’s available because all three networks have already passed it over,’” Jackson recalled. “That sounds like a real winner! He tells me the story of ‘Alley Cats,’ and I’m thinking that’s the worst idea I ever heard in my life.”

Spelling also wasn’t keen on the show, but asked Jackson if she had any ideas — and that’s when she pitched the concept that would turn into “Charlie’s Angels.” An oil painting on angels on Spelling’s wall inspired the show title, and the speaker box on Spelling’s desk morphed into the idea of Charlie’s speaker.

Jackson was originally planning to play Kelly Garrett, but she eventually swapped roles to play Sabrina Duncan instead. In hiring Smith, at first the producers were looking for a redhead to play Kelly. At the time, Smith was in the show “Switch” with Robert Wagner, when she auditioned for Spelling.

Smith remembered ABC being less than enthused about the prospects for “Charlie’s Angels” at first. “They thought it was a fluke, that it didn’t have endurance,” she said. “They thought these women in men’s roles, it wasn’t going to work. Once we remained in the top 10, they believed.”

Farah Fawcett (who died in 2009) played Jill Munroe that first season and became a superstar — but when she left after the first year, that caused a legal fight. Jackson admitted she was disappointed to see Fawcett leave; as did Smith: “I was sad, confused, yeah, and I knew there were a lot of people in her ear,” she said. “But she’s in our collective memory, she’s here.”

Among their favorite Fawcett moments, the stars remembered shooting “Angels in Chains,” which was filmed in Taos. Jackson and Smith said Fawcett was displeased with how cold it was at their location, and later found her hiding in the prop master’s closet with a gas stove on, drinking vodka to stay warm. “It was all so funny,” Jackson said.

With Fawcett gone by the following year, Ladd joined the show to replace her as Kris Munroe. “She stepped right in and didn’t miss a beat,” Jackson said. At first, Ladd wasn’t interested in trying to fill Fawcett’s shoes, and turned down the offer several times. But then Spelling sold Ladd on the idea that she’d be playing the younger sister of Fawcett’s character. “He said, ‘if you’re Farrah’s little sister, you’re part of the family,’ and I said, ‘I’m in!’” Ladd famously wore a “”Farrah Fawcett-Minor” t-shirt on her first day of filming (in reference to Fawcett’s then-last name “Fawcett-Majors”) in a bid to win over the crew.

At the height of the show’s popularity, “Charlie’s Angels” also became a marketing bonanza. But Jackson said she has seen virtually no money from that over the last 50 years. “In 2000, I got a check from Sony for 80something dollars. For merchandising from inception of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ to present day. Thank you, Sony Pictures.”

The stars also recalled the projects that had to pass on because they were committed to “Charlie’s Angels.” For Jackson, it meant having to drop out of “Kramer vs. Kramer” when production on that film kept shifting, and she had to return to the “Charlie’s Angels” set. Smith, meanwhile, had the chance to be a “Bond girl” in a James Bond movie, but also had a contract that prevented her from doing it.

“Things happen for a reason,” Smith said.

Among other “could’ve beens” for the stars, but unrelated to “Charlie’s Angels,” Ladd noted she was up for “The Burning Bed,” a role that coincidentally eventually went to Fawcett. And Smith said she was considered for the film “Beetlejuice,” but “I just didn’t understand it. My husband regrets that! But sometimes you read a script, and it doesn’t always ring true to you.”

As for what’s next, Smith plans to release a new memoir in September, “I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie,” about her time on the show, and also about her family. Ladd is frequently seen in Christmas movies these days (“I got a thing for Jesus, I’m just saying!” she said).

And then there’s Jackson, who hasn’t done much acting in the last two decades, opting to focus on raising her family. “I was directing, I came home, and my son was very little,” she said. “I realized I couldn’t be a good director and good mom at the same time. So I walked away and became a full-time mom. I’m glad I did it.” But now, the news: “I’m ready to go back!” she exclaimed.

KABC-TV entertainment reporter George Pennacchio moderated the conversation, which publicity exec Jay Schwartz helped organize with PaleyFest. Jackson, Smith and Ladd will also be recognized at the Paley Honors Spring Gala in New York on May 14.