A private funeral will be held next week for “Charles Angeles” actress Farrah Fawcett who lost her lengthy battle with cancer on Friday. The funeral service will be closed to the public and media and will be held in Los Angeles.

Fawcett died at St. John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica at the age of 62 with her friends and family by her side. Long time companion Ryan O’Neal said in a statement that “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 and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.”

The actress was diagnosed with the cancer in 2006 and her fight against the disease was made into a documentary called “Farrah’s Story”. The documentary was broadcast on NBC and will air again on US TV screens Friday night.

Lifelong friend of the Fawcett, Alana Stewart told SDNN that there are “no words to express the deep sense of loss I feel”. She told the news network that Farrah was more than her friend and she will be the angel to watch over those she loved most.

Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal never married but have a 24 year old son together. The actress has a number of big television roles in the early 70’s including “I Dream of Jeannie”, “The Partridge Family” and S.W.A.T but it was the hit show “Charles Angeles” where she made her fame.

Fawcett become a cultural American icon when she stared in Charles Angels as the private investigator Jill Munroe. Her long blonde hair become her signature trademark- the one-piece red swimsuit image became a feature on many bedroom walls.

Her golden locks and her winning smile made Fawcett a well-received star. Although getting a Golden Globe nomination for best actress, she was still unhappy with her contract, leaving Charles Angeles in 1977. But Fawcett still returned for guest spots in the series until 1980 when she left the hit show for good.

From her departure, Fawcett made a series of television movies and made her triumphant return to fame as her role as battered housewife in the film “The Burning Bed”.

The famous blonde bombshell starred in a number of television movies until 2004, making her presence on our TV screens for many years.