'Farrah's Story' Screens To Tears, 'Heavily Medicated' Fawcett Stays Home

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — "Farrah's Story," an unvarnished look at Farrah Fawcett's struggle to overcome cancer with her dignity intact, was shown to a somber audience that included longtime companion Ryan O'Neal.

"This is truly Farrah's evening. She wasn't up to making it, but she's here in spirit," Alana Stewart, a close friend, said in introducing the video diary Wednesday at the Paley Center for Media.

Stewart was a producer on the project, which airs Friday on NBC, and filmed Fawcett as she endured chemotherapy and other grueling treatment. Fawcett was diagnosed in 2006 with anal cancer that has spread to her liver.

Fawcett is doing "OK," a guarded O'Neal said. He's shown in the documentary as a steady presence as the actress goes through highs and lows, although the two ended their long romantic relationship in the late 1990s.

Asked if the former "Charlie's Angels" star was aware of the concern about her, he replied, "I'm gonna tell her."

Jacqueline Bisset, Melanie Griffith and Paul Le Mat, who starred with Fawcett in the 1984 TV movie, "The Burning Bed," attended the screening that drew applause and tears.

In an interview earlier Wednesday, O'Neal said he planned to watch Friday's broadcast (9 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT) with Fawcett at her Los Angeles home.

"She's heavily medicated," O'Neal, 68, said. "We're going to take some of these medications down so she's lucid and sharp to watch herself. I think she'll take great pride in this."

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Fawcett, 62, is in a "very rocky place," O'Neal said. "We put on a brave front, always, when we're with her. She doesn't know how scared we are."

In the film, he expresses concern about how the loss of Fawcett would affect their son, Redmond O'Neal, 24, just admitted into a court-ordered drug program.

The documentary is unsparing but infused with Fawcett's grit and good humor as she faces pain, setbacks and, as the treatments grow harsher, the loss of her trademark lush blond locks.

"If you liked her, you're gonna love her" after seeing the film, said O'Neal.

Fawcett shares intimate thoughts in the documentary about her illness, the tabloid that stripped away her privacy and the paparazzi that bedevil her.

"I do not want to die of this disease. So I say to God, `It is seriously time for a miracle,'" Fawcett says.

The actress, so identified with glamorous Hollywood make-believe in her frothy 1970s TV show, is bringing the cold slap of true reality to TV. But fiction and fact can't help but mingle.

At one point, when German doctors seem to have made a breakthrough for Fawcett, a tearful, smiling O'Neal says, "I thought I was in another `Love Story' movie" _ a reference to the 1970 film in which he plays a young husband who loses his wife to illness.

"Farrah's Story" started out as a personal record, intended as a "success story" for family viewing, O'Neal said, and to keep track of her treatment.

Although a private person, Fawcett realized her experience could inspire others, Stewart said in an interview.

"Farrah's Story" will show her "incredible strength," Stewart said. "Her big message to people is don't give up, no matter what they say to you, keep fighting."

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Comments

[grasyknol]

interesting.

[Soori]

Obviously Farrah is a very special lady and has demonstrated great courage and compassion for others by making this video. How many of us would be willing to go through this if we were in her position. I don't think many!

I wish her peace and I hope that miracles dol come through as they have for so many .

[wltdnfaded]

I wouldn't. This is one brave lady.

[primordialsoup]

Well said. Thank you.

[Halsey]

Those of us in a similar battle do need miracles..­..the treatment can be grueling..­.we who had both chemo and weeks of radiation.­..and the "waiting".­.to hear the word "cured"...­is bringing me down at the very time I need the strength this woman is showing. I don't like the emotion of hate..but I HATE cancer and how it takes over your life and defines it. I WANT a miracle for Farrah...p­artly for selfish reasons...­cause then maybe I can have one too. She is amazing...­not because of her beauty or underutilized acting talent..bu­t for the courage she displays. I truly can't stand this...I will watch her story....a­nd make it mine...I'm 54....have I lived long enough? Anthro needs to walk one block in a cancer victim's shoes....t­here is NOTHING than prepares you...noth­ing..

[whognu]

I wish for peace for Farrah and those who love her at that very difficult time.

[Bluelynx]

No one has the right to tell Farrah what she should or should not do. I had to watch my mother and my best friend forever die of cancer. It's a terrible thing. Don't judge Farrah, but send her positive thoughts and prayers.

[gusmax]

I was watching part of this story on the news the morning. Thought I would catch a blog or two.

How can someone with an IQ below 79 make a comment about her age? Hey, kid, how old are your parents? 62 is the new 42. We are still running or skiing or using our brains to contribute to society, living green and loving our adult children and now the grandkids. Some of us even have normal blood pressure or do not have diabetes and are not overweight!

Have you looked at the real world...ev­er? Cancer does not have an age group. It affects infants, young and old children, teen-agers, young adults, young parents, old parents, senior citizens and everyone in the middle. Cancer does not discriminate.

Hopefully, you will never know the scourge of this disease. In the meantime, go grow up and get a good education.

[roshni]

Excellent post. My grandmother died at age 92 and she was still going strong and fighting to her last breath. It's ridiculous to suggest that someone should not want to survive and be there for her loved ones because she is of a certain age.

[Anthro]

There would be a lot more dignity in dying if people would accept their fate instead of wasting their last months wishing for "miracles". Use the time to tell your loved ones how much you love them. She is 62, after all, not exactly young. I am sorry she is apparently is suffering and in pain and, therefore, heavily medicated (thankfully).

[rabiddog6708]

Sorry if everyone does not want to give up. I'm sure she can fight the disease and still her family and friends that she loves them. Just because she is 62 doesn't mean she has lived her share either. My Grandfather lived to 90......th­at extra 28 years means a lot.

[dare2tryobama]

Just because you are dying from an illness you don't have to stay hidden away. Stories like hers inspire people to continue to fight and advocate for a cure. If you are fighting and bringing awareness that is not wasting your last months. That is an awful thing to say. My father is dying from cancer right now and I am glad he hasn't just rolled over and said that's it. He continues to fight everyday.

[wltdnfaded]

Wow. A little soda with your ICE?

That was cold. "Accept their fate"???? Would you say that to your mother if she were dying of cancer? Or your daughter? "Accept your fate"?

I really, REALLY want to go off on you, but it's not worth it.

[nunzia]

wld- my sentiments exactly!

[Eminneci]

Second that! Well said!

[RobertHenryEller]

My father taught me that he believed one should accept death in this way. He made very clear throughout his life that, under certain circumstances, he would not wish extraordinary measures to be taken to simply prolong his life. When such circumstances ensued, we honored him by allowing him to die the way he wished. We did not tell him how to meet his death, and it was not easy for some of us to honor his wish. But we did.

I don't agree with you that Anthro's statement is cold. Anthro was not sitting at someone's deathbed telling them what to do. Anthro was suggesting that if people accepted the inevitability of death, and were realistic about it, they might do better when death was imminent.

This may not be true for everyone.

But keep this in mind, even if it's a bit cold for you: 80% to 90% of the two trillion dollars we spend annually in the US on "health care" goes to keeping people alive in the last six months of their lives. In a world of finite resources, we have to make choices. Does this make sense? Does this make our lives better?

Come to your own conclusion. But I could make the case that the people who insist and demand that the better part of two trillion dollars a year be spent on keeping themselves or their loved ones alive under these circumstances might be cold to the consequences of that collective decision.

[inorbit]

Not giving up is how some people cope best with cancer. I will not attempt to judge someone with a terminal illness.

[hotseat]

So true. Cruel and judgmental statements are just that. Give the lady a break.

[Falafel]

Ah, the exuberance of youth. Hope you never get sick at live to be 100!

[tsanders726]

I feel sorry for her like I would anyone going through something like this. But why does everyone act as though she should be exempt from this simply because of who she is? It's a very arrogant attitude to act as though she is simply too special, too beautiful, too "Farrah" to be afflicted this way.
Her son obviouslt has addiction issues, like his siblings, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the cancer. Using that is just an excuse. He's had a privileged life and he seems incredibly spoiled. What a shame that he couldn't be a man and rise above it.

There are millions of people suffering everyday from cancer and other horrible diseases. I'm sure they, and their families, wish it wasn't happening to them. No one deserves to suffer this way, whether you're a celebrity or a regular person.

[inorbit]

I don't think anyone, including Farrah, thinks she should be exempt from this just because she is a famous actress. Where did you get that idea? She is just one human being dealing with cancer who wants to help others who are suffering from the same disease. I also don't think anyone, including Farrah, seems to think that Redmond's drug addiction has anything to do with her cancer. Drug addiction can happen to anyone in any family. Redmond is feeling guilty because he knows that he's screwed up and now he can't be with his mother when she is dying and needs him to be there. I don't think he blames anyone but himself for his problems.

I'd feel guilty, too.

[lippp]

Of course, what is happening to Farrah is tragic and very, very sad as it is for anyone no matter who they are. After all, there is no guarantee that either you or I will not someday experience a similar fate. Having said that, you cannot deny Farah's family is dysfunctional although this terrible disease seems to bringing at least Ryan and Farah closer. But where was Ryan for his other three children? All have drug problems, addiction issues and criminal records. That is not typical and cannot be blamed on those kids, alone. So while Ryan is genuinely and sadly suffering, his children have been suffering for quite a long time and may never, never overcome what he has in large part been responsible for. So let's put things in perspective.

[wltdnfaded]

Wow, the judgmental BS spewed here is in rare form today. You and Anthro should go bowling.

[mckatt]

Good for you wltdnfaded­.. I totally agree....W­hat is wrong with these people??

[roshni]

I think she is trying to tell her story her way because her privacy has been invaded because of who she is.

[abliss2379]

I always liked her as an actress; she really made movies she didn't have to make and probably shouldn't have, image-wise, but she wanted to be seen as an actress. Now I suspect when I watch this movie tomorrow night, we'll get a glimpse of a filmmaker.